Frequently Asked Questions

"Mood Changes in Dance Classes for Children and Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study"

Q1: What is the purpose of this study?

A: This study aims to explore how regular dance practice impacts the emotional well-being of adolescent dancers, particularly in relation to anxiety and depression.

Q2: Who can participate in the study?

A: The study is open to female dancers aged 5-17 enrolled at Tiffany's Dance Academy.

Q3: Is participation mandatory?

A: No, participation is entirely voluntary. Your decision to participate or not will not affect your enrollment or experience in dance classes.

Q4: What will participants be asked to do?

A: Participants will:

   - Log their mood before and after each dance class using an emoji-based app

   - Complete the PANAS-C survey periodically (about every six weeks)

Q5: How long does the study last?

A: The study is ongoing, but you can withdraw at any time.

Q6: How is my child's privacy protected?

A: All data is anonymized for analysis. Only authorized research personnel can access the link between names and data. The mood-logging process is designed to ensure individual privacy in the classroom.

Q7: Will I have access to my child's results?

A: We will provide general findings from the study. Individual results may be available upon request, but we primarily focus on group-level data.

Q8: How will the mood-logging app work in class?

A: The app will vocalize your child's name when it's their turn to log their mood. They'll approach an iPad facing away from others, select their mood, and submit it privately.

Q9: Can parents help with the PANAS-C survey?

A: Yes, parents can assist younger children in completing the survey if needed.

Q10: What if we miss a mood log or survey?

A: It's okay to miss occasional logs or surveys. Just continue participating when you can.

Q11: How will this study benefit my child?

A: While we can't guarantee individual benefits, participants may gain insights into their emotional patterns and contribute to research that could help many young dancers.

Q12: Will the dance instructors see my child's mood data?

A: No, instructors will not have access to individual mood data to ensure unbiased class experiences.

Q13: What if my child feels uncomfortable during the study?

A: Your child can skip any part of the study or withdraw completely at any time without any negative consequences.

Q14: How will the results be used?

A: The results will be used to better understand the impact of dance on adolescent mental health and may be published in academic journals or presented at conferences.

Q15: Who can I contact if I have more questions?

A: You can contact Tiffany Henderson at mood@raisingthebarredance.com for any additional questions.