Dance Participation as a Coping Strategy: Impacts on Stress, Optimism-Pessimism, and Happiness in Employees

Başa Çıkma Stratejisi Olarak Dansa Katılım: Çalışanlarda Stres, İyimserlik–Kötümserlik ve Mutluluk Üzerindeki Etkileri

 Recai YALÇI , Gamze AKYOL*

¹ Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi, Faculty of Sport Science, Aydın, Türkiye / recai.yalci@icloud.com/ 0009-0003-0886-9819 (ORCID)

² Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi, Faculty of Sport Science, Aydın, Türkiye / gamze.akyol@adu.edu.tr/gamz.akyoll@gmail.com/ 0000-0002-9266-2516 (ORCID)

Doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23670587

https://www.ijoss.org/Archive/v3-i3/ijoss-Volume3-issue3-01.pdf

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Received / Gönderim: 15.04.2026 Accepted / Kabul: 10.09.2026 Published / Yayın: 25.10.2026

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of an eight-week dance intervention on the psychological well-being of working adults, focusing on stress-coping strategies, optimism, pessimism, and happiness. A quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test control group design was employed. The sample consisted of 36 employees aged 25-47, recruited from a private company in İzmir, Turkey. Participants in the intervention group attended twice-weekly, non-partnered choreographic dance sessions for eight weeks, while the control group did not engage in any structured activity. Validated self-report scales were used to assess psychosocial outcomes, and data were analyzed using parametric tests. The findings showed significant increases in happiness, stress coping capacity, and optimism levels in the intervention group; while there was a statistically significant positive decrease in pessimism levels. These findings suggest that dance functions as more than a physical activity, serving as a holistic intervention that integrates cognitive, emotional, and social dimensions. Due to its capacity to enhance resilience and coping skills while strengthening positive affect, dance can be evaluated as a valuable strategy for supporting employees’ mental health and well-being. The study highlights the potential of incorporating accessible, enjoyable, and low-cost dance-based programs into workplace health promotion initiatives to mitigate occupational stress and strengthen psychological resources.

Keywords: Dance Intervention, Coping With Stress, Psychological Well Being

Öz

Bu çalışma, sekiz haftalık bir dans müdahalesinin çalışan yetişkinlerin psikolojik iyi oluşu üzerindeki etkilerini; stresle başa çıkma stratejileri, iyimserlik, kötümserlik ve mutluluk değişkenleri çerçevesinde incelemiştir. Araştırmada yarı deneysel ön test–son test kontrol gruplu desen kullanılmıştır. Örneklem, Türkiye’de özel bir şirkette çalışan 25-47 yaş aralığında toplam 36 çalışandan oluşmuştur. Müdahale grubundaki katılımcılar sekiz hafta boyunca haftada iki kez eşli olmayan koreografik dans oturumlarına katılmış, kontrol grubu ise herhangi bir yapılandırılmış etkinliğe dahil edilmemiştir. Psikososyal sonuçları değerlendirmek amacıyla geçerliği ve güvenirliği kanıtlanmış öz bildirim ölçekleri kullanılmış ve veriler parametrik testlerle analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular, müdahale grubunda mutluluk, stresle başa çıkma kapasitesi ve iyimserlik düzeylerinde anlamlı artışlar olduğunu; kötümserlik düzeyinde ise istatistiksel olarak pozitif yönde anlamlı bir azalma eğilimi bulunduğunu göstermiştir. Bu sonuçlar, dansın yalnızca bir fiziksel aktivite olmadığını, bilişsel, duygusal ve sosyal boyutları bütünleştiren bütüncül bir müdahale işlevi gördüğünü ortaya koymaktadır. Dayanıklılığı ve başa çıkma becerilerini artırması ile olumlu duygulanımı güçlendirmesi sayesinde dans, çalışanların ruh sağlığını ve iyi oluşunu desteklemek için değerli bir strateji olarak değerlendirilebilir. Çalışma, işyeri sağlığını geliştirme girişimlerine erişilebilir, keyifli ve düşük maliyetli dans temelli programların entegre edilmesinin, mesleki stresi azaltma ve zihinsel becerileri güçlendirme açısından önemli bir potansiyele sahip olduğunu vurgulamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Dans Müdahalesi, Stresle Başa Çıkma, Psikolojik İyi Oluş

How to Cite This Article

APA 7

Yalçı, R., & Akyol, G. (2026). Dance participation as a coping strategy: Impacts on stress, optimism-pessimism, and happiness in employees. International Journal of Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (IJOSS), 3(3), 932–943.

Vancouver

Yalçı R, Akyol G. Dance participation as a coping strategy: impacts on stress, optimism-pessimism, and happiness in employees. International Journal of Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (IJOSS). 2026;3(3):932-943.

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