Research into women’s midlife clubbing experiences goes four-to-the-floor
Nine in ten respondents (91%) said clubbing contributes positively to their wellbeing, with more than six in ten agreeing they go clubbing to escape the realities of life.
A University of Leeds study of nightlife experiences for midlife women has gone viral this year, leading to international media coverage, sold-out conference events, podcast features, and enthusiastic support across social media platforms.
The study, by Professor Alinka Greasley (School of Music) and Professor Alice O’Grady (School of Performance and Cultural Industries), surveyed 136 women over 40 about their experiences at electronic dance music (EDM) events. Nine in ten respondents (91%) said clubbing contributes positively to their wellbeing, with more than six in ten agreeing they go clubbing to escape the realities of life.
Participants said attendance at electronic dance music events is a form of ‘therapy’ which keeps them physically active, releases stress and tension, improves mental health and helps them feel part of a community.
Although only 7.3% reported experiencing negative comments about their age from others, around one in five (21%) felt they should not participate in EDM because of their age and agreed they felt conspicuous at club nights because of being older.
The results, which were published in the peer-reviewed journal Psychology of Music, led to Professors O’Grady and Greasley arguing that women face intersectional discrimination and that club nights should be open and inclusive spaces for all, so these benefits can be shared.
Professor 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 nighttime industry needs to respond to the fact that older people want to participate in club culture and more should be done to remove barriers.”
Striking a chord
Since its publication, interest in the research has continued to grow, with the paper and its findings reaching new audiences in the UK and overseas.
In October 2026 Professor O’Grady attended the 30th edition of the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), the world's leading electronic music conference and club festival, speaking at a sold-out panel discussion on ‘Why humans still need dancefloors.’
Professor Alice O’Grady (holding the microphone) at the Amsterdam Dance Event panel discussion on why humans still need dancefloors.
“It was an amazing event and there was a great response afterwards, particularly from people working in the sector who wanted to connect with me,” O’Grady said. “There is lots of interest in the wellbeing angle but also in the importance of creating inclusive and accessible spaces for play which is a role that clubs have always provided.
“What has really come through is the significance of participating in dance music cultures as a way of learning how to connect with others, how to experiment and explore, how to discover self and try on new identities.”
Professor O’Grady’s appearance at ADE followed high-profile media coverage of the research in the Guardian, the Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, the New York Post, the Yorkshire Evening Post, Heart FM and regional BBC radio stations across the UK, as well as podcast appearances and an enthusiastic reception across Instagram, X and Facebook.
Commenting on the overall reaction to their research, Professors Alinka Greasley and Alice O’Grady said: “We're pleased that it's gained so much attention. It's clearly struck a chord with so many women who have always known the benefits of participating in this culture. We hope conducting research in this context amplifies those voices even further and helps create change in a sector that is being squeezed due to cost of living crisis, political agendas and changes in consumer habits.”
Future collaborations
The researchers are currently exploring possible collaborations with people working in the sector and are continuing to work closely with postgraduate researcher James Cannon (School of Music), who is conducting research on collective movement and social bonding at dance music events. There is also the possibility of a collaboration with Professor Paul Dolan at the London School of Economics, who is working with Norman Cook (aka Fat Boy Slim) to try and measure the effects of raving on audiences and performers.
Follow Professor Alinka Greasley and Professor Alice O’Grady on LinkedIn for updates.
