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Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

1-14-2026

Abstract

Migrant children represent a unique demographic emerging from China's rapid urbanization. Due to disparities in public resource allocation, socioeconomic conditions, and prolonged exposure to unstable living environments, these children often face significant emotional and social challenges. When confronted with conflicts between urban and rural lifestyles and behavioral norms, they are prone to feelings of inferiority and anxiety, leading to communication barriers and social marginalization, hindering their timely integration into urban society. Creative dance emphasizes interpersonal interaction and engagement as an embodied intervention integrating both physical activity and artistic expression. It plays a crucial role in fostering social support networks and promoting the urban integration of migrant children. Building on this foundation, the present study empirically examines the impact of creative dance interventions on the urban integration of migrant children. The findings indicate that creative dance significantly enhances migrant children's urban integration, providing valuable insights into strategies for supporting their psychological and social development. Method: A total of 12 migrant children (aged 7-10 years) were included in the final analysis. A single-masked, randomized controlled trial was conducted, with participants randomly assigned to either an experimental group (creative dance intervention) or a control group (no dance-related activity). The intervention lasted 10 weeks, with sessions held twice weekly, each lasting 45 minutes. The Children’s Urban Integration Scale was employed as the primary assessment tool. A two-factor repeated measures ANOVA, controlling for gender and age, showed a significant group × time interaction (F = 7.547, p < .05, η²ₚ = 0.485). There was no significant difference between the two groups before the experiment (F = 1.872, p > .05, η²ₚ = 0.190), whereas a significant difference was observed after the experiment (F = 5.825, p < .05, η²ₚ = 0.421). The experimental group showed a significant pre-post difference (F = 30.092, p < .001, η²ₚ = 0.790), while the control group did not exhibit a significant pre-post difference (F = 1.221, p > .05, η²ₚ = 0.132). Creative dance was found to be an effective intervention for enhancing the urban integration of migrant children. This effect may be attributed to the intrinsic characteristics of creative dance, which emphasize process-oriented engagement, inclusivity, participation, and openness, as well as its focus on interpersonal interaction and communication. These findings provide a basis for further exploration of arts and physical-based interventions in social integration research.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18122/ijpah.5.1.282.boisestate

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