Self-Efficacy and Resilience Among Indian Classical Dancers and Non-Dancers: A Comparative Study

Since the time human beings have evolved, dance has remained an integral part in the lives of people of different cultures as it serves a medium for self-expression, transference of cultural knowledge and psycho-social development. From a historical standpoint, Indian Classical dance forms have been serving this purpose since centuries which largely remains undocumented. In this regard, the current study explores how participating in Indian classical dance may influence two important psychological traits: self-efficacy and resilience. Self-efficacy refers to a person’s confidence in their ability to succeed in specific tasks, while resilience is the ability to recover from difficulties and adapt to challenges. The study employed a cross-sectional research design using a purposive sampling method, comprising 133 participants in total 64 trained classical dancers and 69 individuals without formal dance training. Standardized questionnaires were administered to measure both self-efficacy and resilience, and the data were analyzed through an independent samples t-test. Findings indicated that classical dancers reported significantly higher self-efficacy scores (M = 32.57) compared to non-dancers (M = 29.07), suggesting that engagement in classical dance may strengthen individuals’ confidence in their abilities. In contrast, no statistically significant difference emerged between the two groups in terms of resilience, with mean scores of 46.13 for dancers and 43.04 for non-dancers. However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of resilience for classical dancers (M=46.13) and non-dancers (M= 43.04). These findings suggest that Indian classical dance could be a valuable tool for improving self-belief and confidence. The study also highlights the potential for incorporating elements of classical dance into Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) to support emotional and psychological development.