Promoting Well-Being in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Effects of a Creative-Dance-Mediated Psychomotor Intervention on Life Satisfaction and Affect

Background/Objectives: Dance-based programs have been shown to support psychological well-being in later life, yet evidence remains limited for dance-mediated psychomotor interventions. This study examined the effects of a 12-week creative-dance-mediated psychomotor intervention on life satisfaction and positive and negative affect in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This 12-week non-randomized controlled trial involved 34 participants (74.6 ± 6.6 years), allocated by convenience to an experimental group (EG) or control group (CG). The EG participated in a creative-dance-mediated psychomotor intervention (3×/week; 60 min/session; 36 sessions), while the CG maintained usual daily activities. Life satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and affective experience was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) at baseline and post-intervention. Results: No adverse events occurred; attendance was 89.8%. Within-group comparisons showed significant improvements in the EG for SWLS (20.4%), PANAS positive affect (14.3%), and PANAS negative affect (-13.9%), p < 0.05. In the CG, a significant improvement was observed only for PANAS negative affect (-11.5%), p < 0.05. Post-intervention comparisons between groups revealed significant differences favoring the EG for SWLS (p = 0.018) and PANAS positive affect (p < 0.001), with no significant between-group differences at baseline. Conclusions: Over 12 weeks, the intervention was associated with higher life satisfaction and positive affect in the EG compared with the CG. These findings suggest that this intervention format is safe and feasible and may support psychological well-being in community-dwelling older adults.