PARENTAL PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE EFFECT OF DANCE ACTIVITIES ON THE MOOD AND EMOTIONS OF ADOLESCENTS

The aim of this study is to investigate whether parents’ perceptions on the emotions and moods of their children are influenced by the children’s participating in traditional dance activities. The sample of the research consisted of 280 parents of adolescents aged 12-13. There were three experimental groups: a) “Control group”, b) “Experimental group 1” and c) “Experimental group 2”. The measurements was carried out with the KIDSCREEN-52 Scale (Ravens-Sieberer et al., 2007). The dimension used was “Mood and emotions”, which includes 7 questions. There were three measurements. The results of the research showed that the parents’ perceptions concerning the factor “mood and emotions” for the quality of life of their children were differentiated among the groups according to the measurements. According to the parents’ perceptions, their adolescent children’s moods and emotions were improved after participating regularly in extracurricular Greek dance activities organized by nonprofit private societies. In conclusion, parents acknowledge that their children’s participating in dance activities in nonprofit societies improved their general mood and developed their positive emotions, which is quite helpful for adolescents to overcome the emotional disturbance of this age.