Efeitos da dança na qualidade do sono, no nível de ansiedade, depressão e estresse e na variabilidade da frequência cardíaca em mulheres da cidade de São João dos Patos – MA

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep quality, stress levels, depression, anxiety, and heart rate variability (HRV) are fundamental indicators of physical and mental well-being. Regular physical activity benefits cardiovascular and psychological health, but different modalities can generate different responses. As a physical and expressive activity, dance can have unique effects on these parameters. Objective: To compare sleep quality, stress levels, depression, anxiety, and heart rate variability between women

who practice dance (GD) and physically active women (GFA). Methods: This cross- sectional study compares women aged 45 to 80 years divided into 2 groups, GFA

(Physically Active Group) and GD (Dance Group). Sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters, physiological measures of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), Anxiety, Depression and Stress Scale (EADS21), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and heart rate variability (HRV) were evaluated using the HRVCAM software. Results: Sixty-two women were evaluated, divided into GD (n = 31) and GFA (n = 31). The groups had similar ages (GD: 27.9 years; GFA: 28.41 years). BMI was higher in GFA (28.41 kg/m2) than in GD (27.9 kg/m2) (p < 0.001), as well as mean height was higher in GD (1.62 ± 0.03 m) than in GFA (1.56 ± 0.06 m) (p < 0.001). The DG had a higher proportion of widows (41.9%), while the GFA had a higher frequency of divorced (32.3%) and single women (22.6%) (p < 0.001). The DG lived entirely in the urban area, while 12.9% of the GFA were in the rural area (p < 0.001). SBP showed no significant difference between the groups, while DBP was higher in the DG (82 ± 8 mmHg) compared to the GFA (73 ± 12 mmHg) (p < 0.001). HR was slightly higher in the GFA (90.16 ± 10.29 bpm) than in the DG (89.56 ± 8.64 bpm) (p < 0.003). The anxiety classification showed a significant difference (p = 0.024), with a higher frequency of normal individuals in the GFA (93.5%) compared to the GD (77.4%). Depression and stress did not show significant differences between groups. Sleep quality was superior in the GFA, with greater sleep efficiency (92.90 ± 7.25) compared to the GD (86.28 ± 17.29) (p < 0.05). Sleep latency time was longer in the GD (61.72 ± 81.73) than in the GFA (27.12 ± 25.38) (p < 0.03). In terms of HRV, the GD presented higher mean values of HRV (8.54 ± 1.26 bpm) and rMSSD (9.35 ± 1.11 ms), while the GFA had greater AVNN and SDNN. The LF/HF ratio was higher in the GD (0.89) compared to the GFA (0.62). Conclusion: The practice of dance demonstrates an impact on sleep quality, emotional health and autonomic modulation, suggesting this approach for the studied population.