Effects of a biodanza program in relation to physical and psychological parameters in Primary Education

• Main Authors: Juan Ramón Hernández López, Sebastián Fierro Suero, Eduardo J. Fernández-Ozcorta, Pedro Sáenz-López Buñuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Federación Extremeña de Balonmano; University of Extremadura 2018-05-01
• Series: E-balonmano.com: Revista de Ciencias del Deporte
• Subjects: intervención; condición física; inteligencia emocional; autoestima; satisfacción con la vida; intervention; physical fitness; emotional intelligence; self-esteem; life satisfaction
• Online Access: http://e-balonmano.com/ojs/index.php/revista/article/view/428

Introduction: The aim of the study was to know the physical and psychological effects of a biodanza program in primary school children. Methods: Fifty-three students (boys and girls) from a public school located in the province of Huelva were selected for the sample. The students were divided into two different groups: a quasi-control group and a quasi-experimental one. Questionnaires were applied to all the participants at the beginning and at the end of the course in order to measure the psychological variables (self-esteem, emotional inteligence and life satisfaction). Several physical test was also applied to measure maximum consumption of oxygen and agility. Results: Results show significant improvement in self-esteem (t(53)=4.599; p< .001), emotional inteligence (t(52)=2.160; p= .035) and agility (U=-3.763; p< .001). For maximum consumption of oxygen and life satisfaction variables some improvements have been found, but they are not enough to be considered significant. Conclusions: These results suggest that a biodanza program in school children can be a good tool to improve the physical and psychological variables previously cited.