Positive effects of dancing in natural versus indoor settings: The mediating role of engagement in physical activity

Using different environments, we tested how engagement in dancing may lead to positive emotions. We also explored the mechanism responsible for the effect natural environments have on emotions by testing the mediational role of objective engagement in physical activity. Regular dancers (N = 64) participated in a salsa-solo session either in an indoor (dance room) or an outdoor (park) condition. We assessed positive exercise-related emotions and perceived exhaustion before and after the dance session. We measured objective engagement in physical activity with accelerometers. A beneficial effect of dancing was observed for all variables. The dancers in the park, compared to the indoor group, reported a greater increase in positive emotions after the salsa session. Objective engagement in dancing was much higher among the dancers in the park than in the dance room. Finally, we found that dance has positive psychological effects in natural settings through engagement in physical activity.