Open Access

ARTICLE

Research on the Effect of Dance Therapy on Improving Social Communication Ability of Children with Autism

Xiaorui Cui¹, Shan Wang^2,*

1 Institute of Education, Xinyang University, Xinyang, 464000, China
2 Hengshui College Conservatory of Music, Hengshui, 053000, China

* Corresponding Author: Shan Wang. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mental Health and Social Development)

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2024, 26(5), 407-416. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2023.030135

Received 23 March 2023; Accepted 07 June 2023; Issue published 30 May 2024

Abstract

Research motivation: Through the 12 weeks dance therapy intervention for children with autism, the purpose is to explore the intervention model of dance therapy for children with autism and the changes in motor ability, social ability, and communication ability of children with autism after dance therapy intervention. The results of the research are expected to expand the intervention mode of dance therapy in my country and provide practical reference for rehabilitation intervention of children with autism. Research methods: 24 autistic boys aged 6 to 12 with mild to moderate symptoms were recruited and screened through the Internet as the subjects of this study. We randomly divided them into experimental group (N = 12) and control group (N = 12). All children with autism have an autism diagnosis certificate issued by Children’s Hospital or a tertiary hospital, excluding other mental diseases (such as epilepsy, major physical disability, mental illness, no history of drugs and other interventions, etc.). We used the paired sample t-test to compare the score difference between the dance treatment group and the control group before and after the two groups, and used the observation method to record the basic communication behavior and the number of active communication behaviors in the experimental group during the intervention process. All data analysis is used in SPSS 20.0. Research results: After 12 weeks of dance therapy intervention, there were statistically significant differences in the gross movement, balance, and coordination abilities of the children in the experimental group compared with those before the intervention (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the children in the control group (p > 0.05). After 12 weeks of dance therapy intervention, there were statistically significant differences in the scores of the social response scale for children with autism in the experimental group (p < 0.05). There was no significant change in the scores of each item of the SRS scale before and after intervention in the control group and the dance treatment group (p > 0.05).

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