- Title
- Song-write you way to wellbeing: Six-week Pilot Study of an Online Program for Older Adults
- Creator
- English, Helen J.; Kelly, Michelle; Danckert, Cassie; Rosekilly, Paige; Donoghoe, Zachary; Karayanidis, Frini
- Relation
- Journal of Music, Health, and Wellbeing Vol. 1, Issue Autumn 2022, p. 1-15
- Relation
- https://www.musichealthandwellbeing.co.uk/ijmhwpublications
- Publisher
- University of Derby
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2022
- Description
- The psychosocial benefits of listening to and playing music for older adults are well-established. However, there is less evidence regarding the benefits of creating music. Songwriting is a complex cognitive activity that activates attention, memory and decision-making, all processes which are sensitive to age-related decline and amenable to training. Group songwriting also requires complex social skills, including perspective-taking and negotiation. These complexities may contribute to the level of engagement individuals have with the process, potentially promoting cognitive and emotional wellbeing. This pilot study examined the acceptability of a six-week online group song-writing program amongst older adults accessing care and living independently. We aimed to establish that a group song-writing course could be delivered online and to characterise qualitative and quantitative effects on wellbeing. A six-week songwriting course was delivered to a small group (n=10) of older adults with little to no prior music or songwriting experience. The course was delivered online via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic by postgraduate music students. Psychosocial benefits were assessed using standardised psychosocial measures delivered online pre- and post-program. Qualitative data were collected in a focus group after course completion. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to identify themes from focus group data. Quantitative data was examined descriptively. Five themes emerged: positive emotions, social connections, achievement, lifelong learning and the transfer of new musical knowledge into everyday life. Most participants reported improved musical confidence and associated empowerment, and positive impact on their everyday lives. Quantitative data was largely consistent with pre-post improvements in wellbeing. The study demonstrated the songwriting program could be delivered online to musically inexperienced older adults. Despite a small sample size, the results show promising positive changes in cognitive and emotional wellbeing. Further work with larger samples is needed to provide stronger evidence.
- Subject
- cognitive ageing; songwriting; creative ageing; cognitive wellbeing; emotional wellbeing
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1482341
- Identifier
- uon:50918
- Identifier
- ISSN:2515-981X
- Language
- eng
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