Early Intervention Music Therapy for Adolescent Mothers and Their Children

Abstract

Adolescence is a unique and challenging period of growth, change and possible turmoil as a young person transitions towards adulthood. The capacity to provide quality parenting at this time is likely to be compromised because the teenage mother simultaneously experiences the challenges of adolescence and first time parenthood. Research suggests that teenage mothers are significantly less supportive, more detached, more intrusive, and more negative / hostile, when compared to older mothers, and may be less able to provide a stimulating learning environment. Sing & Grow is a national early intervention music therapy project provided by Playgroup Associations and funded by the Commonwealth Government of Australia. The project provides 10 weekly group music therapy sessions to parent and child (aged 0 to 3 years) dyads from families in communities identified as marginal as a result of various circumstances, including adolescent and young parenthood. Outcomes of clinical programmes conducted to date show that the central provision of music has been successful in promoting a range of non-musical parenting outcomes for adolescent and young mothers. This includes observed increases in their repertory of skills in relating to and interacting with their child in more gentle and nurturing ways.

A Clinical Case Study of Family-Based Music Therapy

“…Being deprived from such interactions during infancy, Lalenia and Larna were learning to bond. Similarly, Abad and Williams (2006) reported a case study of music therapy facilitating cuddling and gentle touch interactions between a mother and her infant that aimed to increase bonding and intimacy.…”

Literature Review of Early Childhood Music Therapy Between 1990-2012

“…In this study, there seem to be several papers with a large number of participants. This was particularly evident in the Sing&Grow reports (Abad, 2007;Abad & Williams, 2006;Nicholson et al, 2008;Williams et al, 2012). Participants numbers were 850 (Nicholsson et al, 2010) and 635 families (Abad, 2007) (Kelly, 2011).…”

“…The program was funded for 2 years initially and then the funding was extended. In the findings of this review five Sing&Grow research papers were included (Abad, 2007;Abad & Williams, 2006;Nicholson et al, 2010;Nicholson et al, 2008;Williams et al, 2012) and one clinical evaluative paper (Williams & Abad, 2005). These have affected especially the analysis results of research articles.…”

“…Language development and learning competences were more frequently written about but pre-writing and -reading compe- (13) c. attachment (4) d. positive image (3) e. attunement (1) a. Abad, 2007;Abad & Williams, 2006;Bargiel, 2004;Drake 2008;Drake, 2011;Dun, 1995;Hibben, 1992;Kelly, 2011;Ledger, 2011 (11) c. positive interaction (9) d. turn-taking and reciprocity (6) e. sustained attention (4 a. Bruce & High, 2012;Finnigan & Starr, 2010;Hibben, 1992;Kim et al, 2009;Lecourt, 1991;Oldfield, 1991;Oldfield, 2006;Pasiali, 2012b;Robb, 2000;Salas & Gonzales, 1991;Tomlinson, 2010 Levinge, 1990;Oldfield, 2006;Robb, 2000;Tomlinson, 2010 c. Dun, 1995;Kim et al, 2008;Levinge, 2011;Skewes & Thompson, 1998 Social behavior (9 different texts) a. decreased problem behavior (3) b. concentration (3) c. need of control reduced (1) d. decreased stereotypic behaviour e. Skewes & Thompson, 1998 tences were in the minority (Register, 2001;…”

Music therapy with young people who have profound intellectual and developmental disability: Four case studies exploring communication and engagement within musical interactions

“…Practice in early intervention has already moved in this direction, with family-centred models focused on supporting carers to develop skills being linked to better interpersonal engagement between children and parents (Abad & Williams, 2006;Gilboa & Roginsky, 2010;Thompson, 2012). In our professional experience in Australia, teamwork has been central to the approach of music therapists in special education for some time.…”