Impact of dance therapy on children with specific learning disability: a two-arm cluster randomized control study on an Italian sample

BACKGROUND

Dance therapy can improve the quality of life of a person with several conditions, especially psychological well-being and quality of life, in the short and long-term. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of the dance therapy (DT) on specific learning disability (SLD) children. We wanted to test the impact on cognitive and emotional patterns on children with learning disorders.

METHODS

A two-arm cluster randomized control study was applied comparing 2 groups of SLD children (treated vs. non-treated). All children have been measured applying psychological battery before and at the end of the experimental protocol.

RESULTS

Our data revealed significant differences between groups for auditory and visual recognition, for interpersonal relationships and for emotions recognition. DT seemed to provide positive evidence as an educational intervention for children with SLDs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirmed that DT protocol was an effective way to improve self-esteem, attention and concentration and emotional recognition in SLD children.

Impact of dance therapy on children with specific learning disability: a two-arm cluster randomized control study on an Italian sample

BACKGROUND

Dance therapy can improve the quality of life of a person with several conditions, especially psychological well-being and quality of life, in the short and long-term. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of the dance therapy (DT) on specific learning disability (SLD) children. We wanted to test the impact on cognitive and emotional patterns on children with learning disorders.

METHODS

A two-arm cluster randomized control study was applied comparing 2 groups of SLD children (treated vs. non-treated). All children have been measured applying psychological battery before and at the end of the experimental protocol.

RESULTS

Our data revealed significant differences between groups for auditory and visual recognition, for interpersonal relationships and for emotions recognition. DT seemed to provide positive evidence as an educational intervention for children with SLDs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirmed that DT protocol was an effective way to improve self-esteem, attention and concentration and emotional recognition in SLD children.

Post traumatic stress disorder and coping in a sample of adult survivors of the Italian earthquake

The aim was to investigate the prevalence of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people who had left their damaged homes and were still living in temporary housing more than a year after the April 2009 L'Aquila (Italy) earthquake. In addition, we evaluated the differences in coping strategies implemented by persons who had and who did not have PTSD. A cross-sectional prevalence study was carried out on a sample of 281 people aged >18 years and living in temporary housing after the earthquake. The questionnaires used include the Davidson Trauma Scale and the Brief Cope. The prevalence of PTSD was 43%. Women and the non-employed were more vulnerable to PTSD, while, age and level of education were not associated with PTSD. Those with PTSD symptoms often employed maladaptive coping strategies for dealing with earthquake and had the highest scores in the domains of denial, venting, behavioral disengagement, self-blame. By contrast, those without PTSD generally had more adaptive coping mechanisms. Adults who were living in temporary housing after the earthquake experienced high rates of PTSD. The difference in coping mechanisms between those who have PTSD and those who do not also suggests that they influence the likeliness of developing PTSD.

Quality of life, psychological wellbeing and resilience: a survey on the Italian population living in a new lodging after the earthquake of April 2009

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to estimate the quality of life and the psychological wellbeing as a result of the earthquake which occurred the 6th of April 2009 and that struck the population of the city of L'Aquila.

METHODS

A random sample of 281 subjects, from the population that had the possibility of living in a temporary lodging provided by the State, were interviewed after the earthquake, during the period between July and October 2010. Two self-administered questionnaires were used: the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) and the Dispositional Resilience Scale (DRS II).

RESULTS

The women's health status is worse than the men's, this is true both on a general level (79,24 vs 70,55), and on different estimated dimensions. Health status is significantly worse in older age groups (F2;245=4,34, p=0,0140): the elderly appear to be more depressed (F2;245=6,52, p=0,0017) and to have less self-control (F2;245=3,06, p=0,0487) than the younger.

CONCLUSIONS

Generally women tend to experience greater emotional involvement in social and interpersonal relationships. Although many months have passed since the catastrophic event, feelings of disease and a sense of impotence (about life) are still persistent in people, even though they generally are hopeful about the future.