Small music programs for mental health and well-being: an evaluation framework

Authors

  • NaYoung Yang Imperial College London, UK
  • Rosemary Jenkins Dept. of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
  • Elizabeth Dubois Dept. of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
  • Harumi Quezada-Yamamoto Dept of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
  • Helen Ward School of Public Health, Imperial College, London
  • Cornelia Junghans Dept. of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47513/mmd.v13i1.739

Abstract

While there is growing interest in the intersection of music and health, current scientific literature in this field often lacks the rigor and strength of studies grounded in quantitative research. Also, a lack of framework to organize data decentralizes the information. The broad definition and subjective nature of music makes it difficult to design evaluations that would yield strong evidence to support the holistic benefits on well-being. This paper proposes a three-category framework to organize raw data to trace the interactions and interlinked nature of the effects of participating in group music activities. The proposed method was used to evaluate two choirs in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), UK: the Sing to Live, Live to Sing in 2016, a singing program based in community centers across RBKC, and the GLUE Sings program, an adolescent music-making and singing program piloted by the Tabernacle W11 in 2018 to increase community engagement and participation after the 2017 Grenfell Fire. Both programs were found to better the holistic well-being of their respective participants. While the framework is useful in these evaluations, future research would benefit even more through utilizing mixed methodologies and increasing collaboration amongst funders, researchers, and program managers.

Author Biographies

NaYoung Yang, Imperial College London, UK

N. Yang is a Master of Public Health graduate, Imperial College London, UK, medical student of RWJMS, USA, and violinist. (email: nayoung.yang@rutgers.edu) 

Rosemary Jenkins, Dept. of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK

R. Jenkins is a Ph.D. student, Dept. of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK (email: rosemary.jenkins15@imperial.ac.uk).

Elizabeth Dubois, Dept. of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK

E. Dubois, FRSPH, MFPH, Ph.D.  is a WHO Research Associate, Dept. of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK. (email: edubois@imperial.ac.uk)

Harumi Quezada-Yamamoto, Dept of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK

H. Quezada-Yamamoto, M.D. is a WHO Research Assistant, Dept of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK, and singer. (email: harumi.quezada-yamamoto17@imperial.ac.uk).

Helen Ward, School of Public Health, Imperial College, London

H. Ward, Ph.D. is a Professor of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK. (email: h.ward@imperial.ac.uk)

Cornelia Junghans, Dept. of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK

C. Junghans, MBBS, Ph.D. is a clinical academic fellow at the Dept. of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, UK. (email: cjunghans@doctors.org.uk)

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Published

2021-01-23

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Full Length Articles