Dança jazz e promocão da saúde mental: aspectos motivacionais e repercussões na qualidade de vida de adolescentes

Abstract

People's quality of life is a widely studied topic today, and when it comes to adolescence, a phase marked by profound changes, this topic becomes even more relevant due to the fact that many adolescents have some difficulties in dealing with these changes, which can affect their general well-being. In this context, the practice of jazz dance can offer a creative way of expressing oneself artistically and, in this way, contribute to the reduction of stress and anxiety for those who practice it regularly. Thus, the general objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic aspects of jazz dance in promoting the mental health of adolescents, specifically with regard to stress and anxiety at this stage of life. The research was carried out at the Ocimara Costa Dance Studio, located in the city of Manaus, and is characterized as qualitative, exploratory and descriptive, and also basic and field-based. The procedures for data collection followed ethical principles and used a semi-structured interview and a focus group as instruments. Four adolescent women aged between 13 and 18 participated in the study, and their statements were analyzed using content analysis, according to Bardin (1977). The results indicate that regular jazz dance practice can play a complementary therapeutic role for adolescents, helping them deal with the emotional and social challenges of adolescence, as observed with the group studied. The analyses also indicated that jazz dance promotes stress relief, strengthens self-esteem, develops emotional skills and improves anxiety management, thus promoting a better quality of life.