From Joy to Generativity: 2-Year Shift in Hip-Hop Dance Teams Aged 65+ at a National Competition

TL;DR

Older adults in hip-hop dance teams in Japan shifted from enjoying the activity to feeling a sense of contribution and connection over two years.

Contribution

This study shows a shift in motivation from enjoyment to prosocial behavior in older adults through community hip-hop dance.

Findings

Prosocial orientation, particularly in 'Helping Others,' increased significantly over two years.

Enjoyment slightly declined while connectedness and purpose increased, as reported by participants.

Most psychosocial domains showed small, non-significant positive changes, except for a slight decline in Enjoyment.

Abstract

Community-based hip-hop dance teams may do more than keep older adults moving—they may shift motives from enjoyment to contribution in later life. We examined two-year within-person change among older adults engaged in community hip-hop dance teams in Japan. At baseline (Year 1), 79 participants across seven municipalities were surveyed; longitudinal analyses included 62 participants (mean age 75.2±6.1; 96.8% women) from six municipalities with data at both Year 1 and Year 2. All teams practiced hip-hop and competed annually in a national competition. By Year 2, the mean participation duration was 2.73±0.99 years. A 40-item questionnaire spanned seven psychosocial domains (Helping Others, Belongingness, Relationships, Status, Social Identity, Enjoyment, Information). Change scores (Year 2 minus Year 1) were tested against zero using one-sample t-tests with Cohen’s d and 95% confidence intervals; participation averaged 2.16 sessions/week for 49.35 minutes/session. Prosocial orientation increased modestly: Helping Others Δ = +0.76 (95% CI 0.15–1.37; d≈0.32). Other domains showed small, directionally positive but non-significant changes—Status Δ = +0.63 (−0.29–1.55), Belongingness Δ = +1.47 (−0.40–3.34), Relationships Δ = +0.31 (−0.52–1.14), Information Δ = +0.19 (−0.49–0.87), Social Identity Δ = −0.02 (−1.12–1.08)—while Enjoyment declined slightly, Δ = −0.55 (−1.59–0.49). Participants frequently noted “more friends,” “moving more every day,” and “greater purpose,” echoing the quantitative pattern. Over two years, community hip-hop dance teams were associated with a small yet consistent shift from initial enjoyment toward contribution and connectedness. Although most effects were small and CIs included zero, the Helping Others CI did not, suggesting practical salience; implications include peer-mentor roles, structured helping opportunities, and intergenerational sessions.