The resilience songwriting program for adolescent bereavement
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: Music therapy research with youth who are grieving frequently uses a combination of approaches (e.g., lyric analysis, improvisation, songwriting), but it is unclear to what extent each approach contributes to the treatment outcomes. The ability to interpret and apply this research is further limited by the lack of theory-driven music therapy interventions. The purpose of this exploratory study was to evaluate the impact of an 8-session, resilience-focused group songwriting program on protective factors in adolescents who are grieving and understand how they experienced the program. This study employed a single-group, pre-/post-test convergent mixed methods design. Participants included 10 adolescents experiencing bereavement (5 girls, 5 boys), ages 12 to 17 years. We implemented the program at a behavioral health clinic, a pediatric hospital bereavement support program, and a school. Quantitative outcomes measured were grief, coping, emotional expression, self-esteem, and meaning making. Qualitative data were captured through the use of semi-structured interviews after the program and in-session journaling. While not statistically significant, median scores for grief, coping, and meaning making improved from pre-test to post-test. No changes were found for self-esteem and only minimal improvements in emotional expression and coping. Qualitative findings suggested that the program offered adolescents a sense of togetherness and belonging, a way to safely express their grief-related emotions and experiences verbally and non-verbally, and opportunities for strengthening their musical and coping skills. These findings suggest that engaging in therapeutic songwriting alongside grieving peers may decrease levels of grief and enhance coping skills, meaning making, and social support.
DOI: 10.17918/etd-7842
Authors: Katherine Myers-Coffman, Joke Bradt
Institutions: University of Dhaka, Drexel University
Language: English
Topic: Music Therapy and Health
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4205310551