A new study from the University of Eastern Finland has found that dancing—especially as a form of expressive performance—can help people manage depression, understand its root causes, and move toward personal growth and self-discovery.
The research, published in the journal Narrative Works, explored how dance impacts mental health by combining insights from psychology, social psychology, and dance as an art form.
Depression is one of the biggest public health challenges today, especially among teenagers and young adults. While medications and talk therapy are commonly used treatments, researchers are looking for additional ways to help people feel better.
According to Professor Tommi Tolmunen, a specialist in adolescent psychiatry, dance could be one of those promising tools. Like exercise, dance can help relieve symptoms of depression—but it also offers something more. It adds a creative and emotion…
In this pilot study, researchers worked with seven adolescents who were diagnosed with mild to moderate depression. Instead of relying only on traditional therapy, these teens used improvisational dance and 3D motion capture to create a digital performance showing their vision of a better future.
Through this process, the participants experienced meaningful improvements in how they viewed themselves and their emotions.
Dancing seemed to reduce stress hormone levels like cortisol and noradrenaline while increasing dopamine, a chemical linked to feelings of pleasure and reward.
But it wasn’t just about brain chemistry—dancing also helped participants feel more connected to their own bodies and emotions. They found a non-verbal way to express feelings that were hard to put into words. For some, it led to greater self-esteem, self-awareness, and even joy.
The environment played a key role. Participants said they felt accepted and supported during the dance sessions. Being part of a group with similar struggles helped create a sense of belonging. This supportive space allowed them to reconnect with their own bodies and reflect on what they were feeling deep down.
For many, this journey became about more than just feeling better—it was about discovering who they really were and what made life meaningful to them.
Dr. Hanna Pohjola, a researcher involved in the study, noted that depression often affects how people feel physical sensations in their body. This is called interoception, and it can be disrupted in people with depression, anxiety, or trouble identifying their emotions. Dance helped restore that body awareness and opened the door to self-acceptance and healing.
One of the most powerful parts of the study was watching the teens view their dance movements from an outside perspective. By using 3D motion capture, they could see their own digital performances anonymously.
This allowed them to reflect on their values, their struggles, and their hopes for the future. In this way, the dance became more than just movement—it became a way to process trauma and imagine a more hopeful life.
This study was part of a larger project called Narrating through Dance in Life Fractures, which ran from 2021 to 2025. The project aims to understand how dance can help people through difficult moments in life.
While more research is needed, this study shows that dance may be a powerful and creative tool in helping people deal with depression—and discover a deeper sense of self along the way.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about Middle-aged women with no kids may have this mental issue and findings of scientists find a cause of mental illnesses induced by childhood abuse.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about Frequent painkiller use linked to mental health risks in these people and findings of Common depression drugs may offer new treatment for bipolar disorder.
The study is published in Narrative Works.
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