Pole dancing, a form of dance that combines strength, flexibility, and sensual movements, can significantly improve women’s mental wellbeing and aspects of the sexual self-concept, including sexual self-esteem and anxiety, according to new research published in BMC Psychology.
Dance has long been recognized not only as an art form but also as a means of personal expression and emotional release. Historically, various forms of dance have been celebrated for their ability to positively influence both physical and psychological wellbeing. However, until recently, dance as a form of therapy had received limited attention, especially newer styles like pole dancing.
Pole dancing, often associated with exotic dance, has evolved beyond its stereotypes and gained popularity as a fitness and recreational activity. Its unique blend of physical exertion and expressive movements intrigued researchers, leading them to explore its potential psychological benefits, particularly focusing on mental wellbeing and sexual self-concept.
“While previous studies on dance therapy have focused mainly on traditional and expressionistic dances, newer forms of dance with ultimately different techniques have been widely neglected so far. One example of such new dances is pole dance,” explained the authors of the new study, led by Jalda Lena Pfeiffer of MSB Medical School Berlin.
“Pole dance has become increasingly popular over the past decade, has paved its way into the recreational sector, and has let a variety of pole dancing classes emerge in fitness studio offers. It combines power exercises with sensual movements, which is why it is suggested to have positive effects on several psychological outcomes. One unique characteristic that distinguishes pole dance from other physical activities is the empowering and sexually liberating notion, as the increasing de-stigmatization of pole dancing challenges societal norms and constructions of female sexuality.”
For their study, the researchers recruited 50 participants through social media and fitness studios. To ensure relevant results, they selected female participants over 18 years old, native German speakers, with limited prior experience in pole dancing. These participants were then divided into two groups: a pole dance group and a waitlist control group.
Over eight weeks, the pole dance group engaged in specially designed dance sessions at two Berlin studios. Each 60-minute session included a mix of general fitness exercises and pole dance-specific training. The program was tailored to individual capabilities, ensuring everyone could participate effectively. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sessions had to be adjusted for individual or household participation, alongside providing weekly exercise videos for practice at home.
The researchers found an increase in mental wellbeing among the pole dance participants compared to the control group, as measured via the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. In particular, women who completed the pole dancing classes were more likely to agree with statements such as “I’ve been thinking clearly” and “I’ve been feeling optimistic about the future.” This aligns with previous qualitative studies suggesting that pole dancing can be empowering.
In terms of sexual self-concept — a person’s view of their sexual feelings, behaviors, and cognitions — the pole dance group showed substantial improvements. They reported increased sexual self-efficacy, meaning they felt more capable and confident in sexual contexts. Additionally, there was a notable decrease in sexual anxiety and an increase in sexual self-esteem and body appreciation.
Interestingly, these benefits did not extend to all measured areas. The study found no significant changes in global self-esteem, sexual motivation, or sexual consciousness, indicating that the effects of pole dancing might be more specific to certain psychological aspects.
The researchers concluded, “our study provides evidence that pole dancing may have broad psychological effects on both overall mental wellbeing and important domains of the sexual self-concept. Pole dancing may be useful to help people cope with sexual anxiety or a lack of sexual self-efficacy and self-esteem.”
However, the study is not without its limitations. The pandemic significantly influenced the study’s structure, restricting the potential socialization benefits of group classes. Additionally, the researchers could not monitor how consistently participants followed the at-home workouts, which might have influenced the outcomes. Moreover, the study did not include long-term follow-up assessments, so the lasting impacts of pole dancing remain unclear.
Future research in this area should aim to address these limitations. Studies with larger participant groups, different settings, and a focus on long-term outcomes would provide more robust evidence. Including an active control group would also help isolate the specific effects of pole dancing from other variables.
The study, “Effects of pole dance on mental wellbeing and the sexual self-concept—a pilot randomized-controlled trial“, was authored by Jalda Lena Pfeiffer, Setia Kati Sowitzki, Thomas Schäfer, and Frank Euteneuer.