See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Published: 01:01 BST, 22 August 2026 | Updated: 01:36 BST, 22 August 2026
It's usually seen as an activity for the young. But if you're a middle-aged woman, it's time to dust off your dancing shoes – as a study has revealed that clubbing is good for you.Of 130 women aged 40-65 asked about their experiences at electronic dance music events, 91 per cent said clubbing contributes positively to their wellbeing.Many described nights out as a form of 'therapy'.Meanwhile, six in ten said they went out to escape the realities of everyday life, according to the researchers from the University of Leeds.Professor Alinka Greasley, co-author of the study, said: 'Our research showed that older women's top three reasons for attending club nights were the music itself, friendships and a sense of community.'These motivations are similar to those reported by younger age groups.' However, some older women said they felt conspicuous or worried they were 'too old' to be there, while others faced unwanted attention or worries about safety.Sadly, 7.3 per cent of the women surveyed said they had experienced negative comments about their age from others while clubbing. And 21 per cent said they felt they shouldn't go clubbing at all because of their age.'In the survey, women talked about their sense of belonging in EDM [electronic dance music] spaces, dressing down to avoid attracting attention to themselves, and some concerns around safety,' Professor Greasley said. if you're a middle-aged woman, it's time to dust off your dancing shoes – as a study has revealed that clubbing is good for you'However, participants reported adopting strategies to navigate their experiences to make sure they could enjoy their night – balancing the tiredness the next day with the energising effect that going out dancing gives them.'Co-author Professor Alice O'Grady said: 'We're seeing the rise of day raves and retro nights, but older people don't just want to hark back to the past. They want to participate in a culture where there's new music and innovation.'The night-time industry needs to respond to the fact that older people want to participate in mainstream clubbing culture, and not exclude them from these spaces.' The findings appear in the journal Psychology of Music.
