The Correlation between Dancing and the Body Image of Teenagers with Low Self-Esteem in Antipolo City

Abstract

Body image dissatisfaction and low self-esteem remain pressing mental health concerns among adolescents, increasingly amplified by social media exposure to unrealistic beauty standards. This quantitative study determined the correlation between dancing and the body image of 50 teenagers (aged 13–17) with low self-esteem from San Roque National High School in Antipolo City, Philippines. Participants were screened using the State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES) and assessed with the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) across pre-test, mid-test, and post-test phases. The dancing intervention involved learning choreographies of two BINI songs — Pantropiko and Salamin, Salamin — over four weeks, performed at home and submitted via video recording. Results showed that BAS-2 scores improved significantly from a pre-test weighted mean of 1.99 (Seldom) to 2.87 (Sometimes) at mid-test, and 4.05 (Often) at post-test. A One-Way ANOVA yielded an F-value of 433.9, far exceeding the critical F-value of 3.35 (p < 0.05), confirming statistical significance. The item 'I am comfortable in my body' showed the greatest improvement, rising from the lowest- to the highest-rated item. These findings support dancing as an effective, culturally relevant occupational therapy intervention for improving adolescent body image and self-esteem.

Keywords: Body Image; Self-Esteem; Dancing; Teenagers; BINI; Body Appreciation; Dance Movement Therapy; Filipino Youth; Mental Health; Occupational Therapy

Citation

Cristina Sandra G. Cirelos. The Correlation between Dancing and the Body Image of Teenagers with Low Self-Esteem in Antipolo City. WebLog J Pediatr. wjp.2026.f1905. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21318917