Effects of a 10-Week Zumba Program on Anxiety and Depression in Adults

NCT07317908 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ZU-AN-DE
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aimed to examine the effects of a 10-week Zumba exercise program on anxiety and depression levels in healthy adults. Participants aged 40 to 65 years were randomly assigned to either a Zumba intervention group or a control group that maintained their usual lifestyle. The intervention consisted of three supervised Zumba sessions per week, each lasting approximately 50 minutes. Anxiety and depression were assessed before and after the intervention using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The study sought to determine whether a structured, group-based aerobic exercise program could improve psychological well-being in a non-clinical adult population.

Conditions

Anxiety; Depression; Psychological Well-being

Keywords

zumba; Physical exercise; Aerobic exercise; mental health; Anxiety; Depression

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Anxiety and Depression

  Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a validated self-report questionnaire designed to detect clinically relevant symptoms of anxiety and depression in non-psychiatric populations. The scale consists of 14 items divided into two subscales: anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D), each ranging from 0 to 21 points, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. Total HADS scores range from 0 to 42. Changes in total and subscale scores were used to evaluate the effects of the intervention on psychological well-being.

  Baseline and Week 10 (end of intervention)

Study Arms (2)

Zumba Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to the experimental group formed the Zumba intervention group. This group followed a supervised Zumba-based exercise program over a period of 10 weeks. The intervention consisted of structured group sessions performed several times per week and led by a qualified instructor. Sessions were based on choreographed aerobic dance movements performed to music, providing moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity aimed at improving cardiovascular fitness and overall physical engagement.

Behavioral: Zumba-based Exercise Program

Group Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the control group did not participate in the exercise intervention and were instructed to maintain their usual lifestyle and physical activity habits throughout the study period.

Interventions

Zumba-based Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

Participants assigned to this intervention received a supervised Zumba-based exercise program lasting 10 consecutive weeks. The intervention consisted of group-based aerobic dance sessions conducted several times per week and led by a qualified instructor. Sessions included choreographed dance movements performed to music, designed to elicit moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and to promote cardiovascular fitness and overall physical engagement. The program followed a standardized structure across sessions and was implemented as the sole intervention during the study period.

Zumba Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• adults aged between 40 and 65 years
• not having regularly practised Zumba or other dance disciplines during the previous 12 months
• medical authorisation or absence of pathologies to participate in supervised physical activity

You may not qualify if:

• presence of orthopaedic, neurological, cardiorespiratory conditions or lack of standing stability that would prevent safe completion of the programme
• participation in any other structured exercise programme during the intervention period
• missing more than 10% of the total sessions (missing more than 2 sessions)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Manuel Jesús Rodríguez Chavarría: lead

Study Sites (1)

Osuna fitness

Osuna, Sevilla, 41640, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Depression; Psychological Well-Being; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Personal Satisfaction

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: This was an open-label study. Due to the nature of the exercise intervention, neither participants nor investigators were blinded to group allocation.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants were randomly allocated to one of two parallel groups: a Zumba intervention group or a control group. The intervention group participated in supervised Zumba sessions three times per week for 10 weeks, while the control group maintained their usual lifestyle without structured exercise.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 19, 2025
• First Posted: January 5, 2026
• Study Start: February 3, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 16, 2025
• Study Completion: April 16, 2025
• Last Updated: January 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)