Exploring the Effectiveness of Dance as an Intervention to Promote Social-Emotional Health in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Loma Linda University (LLU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Hip-Hop Dance

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06295705

5230588

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will explore the effectiveness of dance as an intervention to promote social-emotional health within children with ASD.

Full description

The study will look children with ASD's response to a 7-week occupational therapy led dance program in regards to social-emotional health. This will include exploring the effect on change of social-emotional behavior in children with ASD after being exposed to dance intervention through comparing the quantitative measurements of pre- and post-assessment scores of the Developmental Profile 4 (DP-4), analysis of the qualitative measurements of pre- and post-social-emotional behaviors via child report, and analysis of qualitative observations of social-emotional behavior through reviewing video recording of dance classes. Additionally, parents' perspectives will be explored through post-interview questions to share their observations of their child's experience.

Enrollment: 8 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 7 to 11 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria for Youth Participants

• Elementary school children ages 7-11.

• Parent/caregiver/guardian must provide proof of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) with a Primary Eligibility of Autism.

  o Parent/caregiver/guardian must provide proof of IEP and eligibility.

• Will speak and understand English.

• Able to physically participate in the dance program without the use of adaptive equipment.

• Answer yes to the following Skillset Checklist (Per parent/caregiver/guardian report):

  • Follow 1- and 2-step instructions.
  • Follow structured activities with supervision (e.g., visual schedule, routine).
  • Previous participation in extracurricular group activities over the last 6 months - 1 year (e.g., structured sports).
  • Minimum 5-minutes of attention to task.

Exclusion Criteria:

• No IEP Primary Eligibility of Autism.
• No children participants younger than 7.
• No children participants older than 11.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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8 participants in 1 patient group

Hip-Hop Dance

Experimental group

Description:

The program will be a 7-week occupational therapy led dance program utilizing hip-hop dance as an intervention. Subjects with ASD will dance for 1 time a week for 60 minutes, ending with a dance showcase on the final week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Hip-Hop Dance