Impact of Dance and Movement Therapy on Emotional Regulation in Adolescence with a Special Emphasis on the Adolescents with Special Needs: A Meta Analysis

Adolescence is the phase of life between childhood and adulthood, from ages 10 to 19. It is a unique stage of human development and an important time for laying the foundations of good health. (WHO, 2024). It is the most critical stage of human development, involving major physical, emotional, and social transitions. Adolescents face many difficulties in emotional regulation. It becomes more onerous when the adolescents have some special needs. Emotional regulation, defined as the process of modulating the occurrence, duration, and intensity of internal states of feeling (both positive and negative) and emotion-related physiological processes (Morris et al., 2017). Current researches have been determining the effect of different interventions in becoming proficient in emotional regulation. As one of the significant methods, Dance and Movement Therapy proves its efficacy. The main objectives of the current study were- 1. To study the need of emotional regulation in adolescence stage 2. To discuss the concept of Dance and Movement Therapy and its different strategies in developing emotional regulation skill 3. To evaluate the impact of Dance and Movement Therapy in the development of emotional regulation in the adolescence stage with a special emphasis on the adolescents with special needs. Meta- analysis or systematic review method was adopted to fulfilling the quest. It is concluded from the analysis that Dance and Movement Therapy plays a pivotal role in emotional regulation among adolescents which indicates that the educational institutions, family and the society adhere to this method for better outcomes.