Leiden University Student Repository

Zee, Lotte van der (2026)

Dancing through life: De associatie tussen dans en de hechting tussen ouder en kind

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

Attachment is an important base for emotional, social and cognitive development. Secure attachment is associated with better emotional regulation, and physical development. In recent times there has been a growing interest regarding the creative and physique-focused interventions, such as dance, that might associate with the development of secure attachment and qualitative relations. This systematic review has aimed to investigate the association between attachment and the quality of parent-child relationships, and dance. Dance in this case was broadly interpreted, by including dance in clinical settings, but also in schools, free time or community settings. The systematic review was executed by following the PRISMA guidelines. Studies from the year 2000 and onwards were included. This review ended up including 15 different studies with qualitative and quantitative research designs, different forms of dance and a variety of target groups. Sample sizes varied from 3 to 3000...Show moreAttachment is an important base for emotional, social and cognitive development. Secure attachment is associated with better emotional regulation, and physical development. In recent times there has been a growing interest regarding the creative and physique-focused interventions, such as dance, that might associate with the development of secure attachment and qualitative relations. This systematic review has aimed to investigate the association between attachment and the quality of parent-child relationships, and dance. Dance in this case was broadly interpreted, by including dance in clinical settings, but also in schools, free time or community settings. The systematic review was executed by following the PRISMA guidelines. Studies from the year 2000 and onwards were included. This review ended up including 15 different studies with qualitative and quantitative research designs, different forms of dance and a variety of target groups. Sample sizes varied from 3 to 3000 participants. The results of this study were analysed descriptively. The results of this review show that dance can be positively associated with attachment and quality of parent-child relationships. Dance encourages non-verbal communication, better quality of interaction, positive shared experiences and mutual trust. Furthermore parents reported feeling less stressed and anxious, and more confident about their parenting competence. Based on the findings of this systematic review it can be concluded that dance can be a valuable approximation to support the development of secure attachment and a better quality of parent-child relationships.Show less

Author

Zee, Lotte van der

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Parenting and Child Development

Supervisors

Lotz, A.M.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl