OBJECTIVES: Mental skills training (MST), which systematically uses techniques to build mental skills, is a popular intervention approach that may benefit dancers. However, information presented in existing MST interventions in dance is dispersed, making it difficult to offer evidence-based recommendations. To address this, the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) can improve transparency and replicability in intervention reporting, thus supporting researchers in assessing existing evidence and enhancing future intervention design. Guided by this framework, the aim of this mixed-methods systematic review was to provide an overview of existing MST interventions in dance and examine (1) the characteristics of effective MST interventions in dance and (2) how the reporting of these interventions aligned with the 12 TIDieR items.
DESIGN: Mixed-methods systematic review.
DATA SOURCES: PsycInfo, Medline, Embase, SportDiscus, Web of Science and the first 30 pages of Google Scholar were searched from database inception until August 2024.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods approaches investigating MST interventions in which dancers used mental techniques, developed mental skills or enhanced mental qualities to improve physical and mental well-being.
DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two reviewers independently screened identified studies in Covidence. Using the TIDieR framework, one reviewer extracted data while a second checked 30% of studies for accuracy. A convergent integrated synthesis was conducted.
RESULTS: Findings from the 21 included studies indicated that intervention effectiveness was determined by characteristics relating to both recipients and deliverers. While TIDieR items describing intervention content were most reported, few studies described fidelity.
CONCLUSION: Future MST interventions in dance should consider multiple aspects of effectiveness and involve dancers and deliverers in mapping needs, values and outcomes. Structured reporting tools like TIDieR may enhance reporting clarity and intervention replicability.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024537249.
BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2025. Vol. 15, no 11, article id e104552