Effect of Music therapy on negative affectivity and social inhibition in elderly women

Abstract

Music is a divine mode for management of several conditions. Extensive literature is available to support the importance of music in health care management.The present study was undertaken to observe the effectiveness of raga Bhairavi on negative affectivity and social inhibition in elderly women. Thirty elderly women between 50-65 years were included in the study after obtaiing the informed consent. Willing participants were recruited in the study and those with any severe complications were excluded from the study. The study used type D (DS-14) questionnaire to assess the negative emotions like negative affectivity and social inhibition. Raga therapy was administered for 15 minutes duration wherein first five minutes they listened to OM and then 10 minutes of listening to Raga Bhairavi. The intervention was given once in a day for five days in a week for six weeks. There was a significant decrease in both negative affectivity and social inhibition followed by the raga therapy. The study results suggest that the raga therapy is effective in the management of negative emotions in elderly women with type D personality. The study recommends implementation of Raga therapy in routine life style for management of negative emotions.