I am pleased to announce that my research on singing for wellbeing has recently been published in the Qualitative Health Research journal.
Research suggests that singing in a group is more beneficial for health & wellbeing than singing as an individual.
Abstract
Research into the benefits of community-based group singing, pertaining to positive wellbeing and Quality of Life is lacking. Additionally, no preferred theoretical framework exists for community singing-based interventions. For the present study, six members of a UK community choir were interviewed using a semi-structured interview approach. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed. Analysis produced superordinate themes of: Social Factors with key elements such as social bonds and group identity; Psychological Factors, highlighting self-efficacy, self-identity and positive emotions and Psychological Motivations for Joining the Group, including autonomy, change of life circumstance and seeking a new challenge. The style/method of the group, teaching, music and group leader, were shown to have an influence on perceived benefits of the singing group. A key product of this study beyond the evidenced benefits of group singing is the development of an intervention model that optimises wellbeing outcomes in community singing groups underpinned by psychological theory, findings from the wider literature and the results of this study.
Keywords singing for wellbeing, singing-based interventions, group singing, community choirs, social prescribing, theoretical framework, person-centred social activity model, community health, social groups, social isolation, interpretative phenomenological analysis
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Recent publication:“Singing for Wellbeing: Formulating a Model for Community Group Singing Interventions” is now published and can be accessed here