Effects of a 12-Week Dance Intervention on Physical Fitness and Cognitive Function in Female College Students

This study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week dance intervention on physical fitness and cognitive function in female college students. A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted among 108 first-year female college students from two intact physical education classes. The two classes were assigned to either a dance intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group received a 12-week dance program during university physical education classes, while participants in the control group continued their regular physical education program. Physical fitness was assessed using lung capacity, sit-and-reach, standing long jump, 50-m sprint, and 1000-m run tests. Cognitive function was assessed using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), Adult Executive Functioning Inventory (ADEXI), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Assessments were conducted before and after the 12-week intervention to compare changes between the two groups.