Dissertation
Dancing across the bridge: women exploring midlife transitions through dance/movement therapy (an interpretative phenomenological analysis)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Jun 2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00011568
Abstract
Midlife represents a period of significant physiological, emotional, and psychosocial transition for women, shaped in part by the embodied changes of menopause and aging. Given the somatically grounded nature of this transition, Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) offers a unique therapeutic framework for exploring these changes through movement, creative expression, and supportive group connection. This study utilized Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to examine the lived experience of six women who participated in a six-week, 90-minute group DMT intervention. The analysis revealed three main themes: 1) Participants experienced greater well-being through movement, including improvements in physical and emotional states; 2) DMT provided "A little window into yourself," serving as a catalyst for self-insight and deeper psychological awareness of the midlife transition; and 3) The group format provided a vital sense of social validation and connection, allowing participants to feel "seen" and less isolated. Findings suggested that DMT-based interventions may provide valuable therapeutic resources for women navigating the complex somatic and psychosocial shifts of midlife. Keywords: dance/movement therapy; women in midlife; menopause; interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA); embodied experience; well-being; social connection.
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Details
- Title
- Dancing across the bridge
- Creators
- Monica F. Gaydos
- Contributors
- Minjung Shim (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University
- Number of pages
- xi, 138 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Creative Arts Therapies; College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991022209045504721