Group singing as a public health resource

Clift, Stephen; Hancox, G.; Morrison, Ian; Shipton, Matthew; Page, Sonia; Skingley, Ann; Vella-Burrows, Trish

doi:10.1093/med/9780199688074.003.0031

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…Individual benefits from group singing reported by participants in this study (Theme 5) are widely reported. Evidence from systematic reviews recognize the positive influence from active group singing participation on outcomes measuring quality of life, mood, anxiety and depression both for people with chronic health conditions including dementia ( Clark and Harding, 2012 ; McDermott et al, 2013 ; Reagon et al, 2016 ) and healthy populations ( Clift et al, 2008 ). Consistent with our findings, other qualitative research examining group singing for PwD/FCG dyads also suggest that participants experience mental stimulation, enjoyment, and improved feelings of social confidence and self-esteem ( Camic et al, 2013 ; Osman et al, 2016 ; Unadkat et al, 2017 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the findings from this project and others, therapeutic group singing appears to make a positive short-term difference to the lives of community-dwelling PwD and FCG ( Camic et al, 2013 ; Osman et al, 2016 ; Unadkat et al, 2017 ). However, systematic reviews suggest that knowledge about longer-term influences of TGS for community-dwelling PwD/FCG dyads is limited ( Clift et al, 2008 ; Clark and Harding, 2012 ; McDermott et al, 2013 ; Reagon et al, 2016 ). Attendance in singing groups is a lifestyle choice, and it is also possible that there may be cumulative benefits over time such as delayed disease progression in symptoms dementia, improved coping among FCG, and reduced experiences of social isolation for both PwD and FCG leading to significant impact on long-term quality of life.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Community-Dwelling People Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers Experience Enhanced Relationships and Feelings of Well-Being Following Therapeutic Group Singing: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

2018

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The progression of dementia can severely compromise interpersonal connection and relationship quality between people living with dementia (PwD) and their family caregivers (FCG), leading to social isolation and poor quality of life for both. Therapeutic group singing (TGS) is a socially engaging, stimulating, and supportive pursuit that community-dwelling PwD and their FCG can participate in together. This study aimed to build on the findings from previous research by undertaking a thematic analysis of interviews with nine PwD (five women, four men; mean age = 79.1 years) and nine FCG (five women, four men; mean age = 75.7 years). The interviews explored participants’ perspectives and experiences of a 20-week TGS intervention, underpinned by Kitwood’s model of person-centered care. Inductive thematic analysis resulted in the emergence of five themes which described how TGS for PwD and their FCG: (1) included supportive therapeutic facilitation and design features; (2) made group singing more accessible; (3) fostered new empathic friendships; (4) enhanced relationships between PwD and FCG; and (5) led to personal feelings of wellbeing for both PwD and FCG. Affinity with others who had similar life experiences and challenges created a sense of mutual understanding and camaraderie, which made group singing accessible without fear of judgment and social stigmas. For some PwD/FCG dyads, TGS meant they could continue a lifelong passion for singing together, while others enjoyed participating in singing together for the first time. Both PwD and FCG participants described personal feelings of acceptance, improved social confidence, mood, and purpose. Further, participants valued mental stimulation from TGS such as learning new skills and memory support. A model explaining relationships between themes suggests that TGS with person-centered facilitation features for PwD/FCG dyads led to affinity among group members with ripple effects, which enhanced accessibility to group singing, the formation of empathic friendships, PwD/FCG relationship quality, and personal wellbeing for both PwD and FCG. Psychoemotional, social and cognitive benefits from TGS described by participants in this study are known to promote self-identity, healthy relationships, and quality of life. This research highlights a need for improved availability of TGS for community-dwelling PwD/FCG dyads.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community-Dwelling People Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers Experience Enhanced Relationships and Feelings of Well-Being Following Therapeutic Group Singing: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

2018

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“…Research on the links among singing, choir participation, and health is now quite extensive (see Balsnes, 2010; Clift, Hancox, Staricoff, & Whitmore, 2008; Clift et al, 2010) and indicates a host of related benefits. Singing in choirs affects our bodies (releasing tensions, increasing breathing capacity, maintaining our muscular and skeletal systems, giving us the experience of physical well-being) and our psychological or emotional states (releasing emotions and reducing stress, enhancing happiness and positive emotions, increasing energy levels and even producing measurable therapeutic results in relation to, for example, depression).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can music serve as a “cultural immunogen”? An explorative study

Ruud

2013

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well

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The aim of this study is to explore how people in contemporary society may apply music in their everyday life to improve their health and well-being. Through a series of qualitative interviews, informants gave their narratives about how music had become a part of their health practice. Six narratives concerning this type of everyday musical self-care are presented, and the following questions are sought to be answered: What kinds of musical practices do people apply in order to regulate their health and promote their sense of well-being? What kind of generative health mechanism can we observe or theorize when people use music to enhance their well-being? What kinds of rituals, contextual circumstances and personal health beliefs are operating in these situations? The findings suggests that some people may sing, participate in a choir, dance to music, compose songs, play precomposed music, or play in a band as part of a reflexive strategy to improve their health and well-being. Further analysis also identified six generative factors that may contribute to the immunogen functions of music: A pragmatic concept of music, music as a social and emotional resource, music as a supportive self object, musical competency, rituals, and locus of control. These findings may have implication for the field of music therapy as it will fill the gap between the clinical use of music done by professional music therapists and the everyday “musicking” performed by people outside the institutional practice.

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“…(3) Mental health in new mothers is a topic of significant importance, with meta-analysis highlighting the relatively high prevalence of conditions such as postnatal depression,(4) as well as its detrimental effects on mother-infant interaction, child development and infant temperament. (5) Research has suggested, however, that pharmacological and psychotherapeutic intervention models do not provide a complete solution for mothers suffering from postnatal mental health problems.…”

Section: Textmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between singing to babies and symptoms of postnatal depression, wellbeing, self-esteem and mother-infant bond

Fancourt

Perkins

2017

Public Health

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Introduction: There is growing research documenting the psychological benefits of singing. However, it remains unknown whether singing to new babies is associated with enhanced maternal mental health. This study had two aims: (i) to explore whether these associations exist, and (ii) to compare the effects of singing to babies with listening to music in order to explore whether the sound of music alone or the physical act of singing might be responsible for effects.

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Group singing as a public health resource

Cited by 15 publications

References 0 publications

Community-Dwelling People Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers Experience Enhanced Relationships and Feelings of Well-Being Following Therapeutic Group Singing: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Community-Dwelling People Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers Experience Enhanced Relationships and Feelings of Well-Being Following Therapeutic Group Singing: A Qualitative Thematic Analysis

Can music serve as a “cultural immunogen”? An explorative study

Associations between singing to babies and symptoms of postnatal depression, wellbeing, self-esteem and mother-infant bond

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