Psychosocial outcomes of active singing interventions for therapeutic purposes: a systematic review of the literature

Imogen Nicola Clark · Katherine E. Harding

88 citations0/0 files storedNordic Journal of Music Therapy

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Music Therapy and Health Art Therapy and Mental Health Music Education and Analysis

Abstract

Meaningful interventions that enhance psychosocial factors, such as improving mood, reducing anxiety or increasing motivation, have the potential to ameliorate therapeutic outcomes for individuals in therapeutic programs. Singing, with its capacity for social, emotional, cognitive, and physical engagement, demonstrates potential as an accessible intervention that could facilitate such benefits. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of active singing as an intervention for improving psychosocial measures for people in therapeutic programs. Literature was searched through databases Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, Cinahl, Amed, and PubMed. Key concepts included populations in therapeutic programs, active singing as an intervention and psychosocial outcomes. Fourteen articles were identified that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies were assessed against quality criteria and data were tabulated for analysis and synthesis of results. Of the 11 quantitative studies, three demonstrated significantly improved psychosocial measures following the active singing intervention, and three further studies showed significant effects for both active singing and a comparison intervention. These findings are inconclusive and indicate that a variety of interventions including active singing demonstrate a capacity to improve psychosocial measures in the populations examined. Evidence from three qualitative papers, however, suggests that active singing may have some less tangible benefits that were not captured in the quantitative data. Further research with random group allocation, validated measurement tools, larger sample sizes and mixed quantitative and qualitative designs might increase the potential for results that capture the psychosocial effects of active singing for therapeutic purposes.

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References

2009The PEDro scale is a valid measure of the methodological quality of clinical trials: a demographic study 1997How to read a paper: Papers that summarise other papers (systematic reviews and meta-analyses)2004Effects of Choir Singing or Listening on Secretory Immunoglobulin A, Cortisol, and Emotional State 2005Understanding randomised controlled trials 2006Uses of music and psychological well-being among the elderly 2005The meaning of music in the lives of older people: a qualitative study 2004Applying systematic review methods to studies of people’s views: an example from public health research 2005Effects of group singing and performance for marginalized and middle-class singers

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2018Psychobiological Effects of Choral Singing on Affective State, Social Connectedness, and Stress: Influences of Singing Activity and Time Course 2018The Effects of Music Therapy-Singing Group on Quality of Life and Affect of Persons With Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial 2016Health Outcomes of a Series of Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music Sessions: A Systematic Review 2017Further evidence that singing fosters mental health and wellbeing: the West Kent and Medway project

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