The impact of dance/movement psychotherapy on social skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This study conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of Dance/Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) on social skills in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Although DMP has been widely applied as an embodied and relational intervention, quantitative evidence regarding its impact on social functioning remains limited. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed across major databases (PubMed and PsycNet) to identify studies published between 2000 and 2025. Eligible studies examined DMP-based interventions targeting social skills in individuals with ASD and included a comparison group. Four studies (k = 4) with a total of 93 participants met the inclusion criteria. Effect sizes were calculated using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using standard statistical procedures. RESULTS: The meta-analysis revealed a significant overall effect of DMP on social skills (Hedges' g = -0.97, 95% CI: -1.69 to -0.25), indicating substantial improvement compared with control conditions. Because higher scores on commonly used measures such as the Social Responsiveness Scale reflect greater social impairment, negative effect sizes signify enhanced social skills. Moderate heterogeneity was observed across studies (I 2 = 58.30%), and publication bias analyses suggested limited stability of the pooled effect. CONCLUSION: The findings provide preliminary quantitative evidence suggesting that DMP may contribute to improvements in social skill-related outcomes in individuals with ASD. However, the small number of available studies and indications of publication bias warrant cautious interpretation. Further high-quality randomized studies with standardized outcome measures are needed to strengthen the evidence base for DMP in ASD interventions.