Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2013
Publication Source
Music Therapy Perspectives
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of group music therapy on levels of self-reported negative affect (NA) among men and women on a residential unit of an integrated dual diagnosis treatment program.
More specifically, we sought to determine if and to what degree engagement in composition, receptive (listening), re-creation (performing), and improvisation experiences would result in a shift—namely, a decrease—in the intensity of self-reported NA.
Participants were adults in residential treatment who had been diagnosed with co-occurring substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental illnesses (MIs), predominantly mood and anxiety disorders. Twenty group-music-therapy sessions were held on the unit. Three researcher-developed visual analogue scales were used to assess pre- and postsession levels of anxiety, anger, and sadness.
In total, 89 surveys were analyzed. Results indicate that nearly a third of the participants who were involved in the treatment groups reported a decrease in anxiety, sadness, and anger combined, with more than half of the responses in each of these three emotional states indicating a decrease.
While these are encouraging results, generalization of findings is limited primarily by the use of a nonstandardized measurement tool, the absence of a control group, the possibility of intentional deceit, and the potential for researcher bias in the collection and compilation of the data.
Inclusive pages
116-126
ISBN/ISSN
0734-6875
Document Version
Postprint
Copyright
Copyright © 2013, American Music Therapy Association
Publisher
American Music Therapy Association
Volume
31
Issue
2
Peer Reviewed
yes
eCommons Citation
Gardstrom, Susan; Bartkowski, Jacklyn; Willenbrink, Joy; and Diestelkamp, Wiebke S., "The Impact of Group Music Therapy on Negative Affect of People with Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illnesses" (2013). Music Faculty Publications. 4.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/mus_fac_pub/4
Included in
Music Education Commons, Music Pedagogy Commons, Music Performance Commons, Music Therapy Commons
Comments
The document available for download is the authors' accepted manuscript, posted here in compliance with the publisher's policy on self-archiving.
Some differences may exist between this version and the publisher's version; as such, researchers wishing to quote directly from it are advised to consult the version of record, available at many libraries or from the publisher.
Permission documentation is on file.