Högskolan i Skövde

Heart rate variability (HRV) and subjective well-being (SWB) are key indicators of physiological and psychological health. While greater HRV is linked to improved emotional regulation and overall health, SWB encompasses both affective (positive and negative) and cognitive (life and domain satisfaction) components. Given the potential of physical activity, such as dance, to influence these variables, this study aimed to explore whether attending a hip-hop dance class might serve as a short-term intervention to enhance both physiological and mental well-being. Twenty hobby dancers participated in a naturalistic experiment. HRV parameters, root mean square of successive differences between heartbeats (RMSSD) and standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), were measured before and during a hip-hop dance class using the Polar H10 sensor. Positive and negative affect and life satisfaction were assessed using self-report scales at three time points: before, immediately after, and one day after the class. Results showed a significant decrease in RMSSD and a significant increase in SDNN during dance, suggesting changes in autonomic activity. Positive affect increased and negative affect decreased post-class, although life satisfaction showed no significant change. Notably, positive affect appeared to return to baseline more quickly than negative affect. These findings suggest that participating in a hip-hop dance class may offer a temporary boost in both physiological and psychological well-being. However, given the absence of a control group and other methodological limitations, these results should be interpreted with caution.