Effects of preferred music therapy on peer attachment, depression, and salivary cortisol among early adolescents in Taiwan

Abstract

Aims:To explore the effects of preferred music therapy on peer attachment, depression, and salivary cortisol among early adolescents.Background: As adolescents enter puberty, they start to seek partnering relationships among peers. Peer attachment is central for adolescents and greatly influences their physical and psychological development. Design: A pre-test-posttest control group design. Methods: The data were collected from July -October 2016. A total of 65 individuals were included. The treatment group received 40 min of music therapy twice per week over the course of 10 weeks. The control group maintained its typical routine. The research data were collected using structured questionnaires, including basic information, the Inventory of Peer Attachment, the Beck Depression Inventory-II questionnaires, and salivary cortisol concentrations. Statistical analysis methods included percentages, chi-square tests, t tests, analyses of covariance, and the Johnson-Neyman technique.Results: There were statistically significant differences in peer attachment, depression, and salivary cortisol levels in the music group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the findings showed that early adolescents with more severe depression experienced greater improvement through preferred music therapy. Conclusion:The results allude to the beneficial effects of receiving preferred music therapy in terms of the peer attachment, depression, and salivary cortisol levels of early adolescents. Adjustments should be made based on the characteristics of student groups to develop suitable and safe music therapy and to reduce the risks of poor mental health. K E Y W O R D Sadolescents, depression, music therapy, nursing, peer attachment, salivary cortisol

Effects of a group music-based intervention in improving attachment and psychosocial adaptation in adolescents with parental attachment insecurity: A randomized trial

“…In one study involving Taiwanese early adolescents, cortisol reductions significantly differed over time after a group music intervention (C. J. Chen et al, 2019). The developmental mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of a group music-based intervention, such as the intervention used in the present study, may be explained in terms of cortisol reduction, which might subsequently improve psychosocial development.…”

“…Music has been associated with various physiological indicators (such as heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate; Kistler et al, 2010; Vaajoki et al, 2011) and reduced depression (Chen et al, 2015). Many mechanistic models provide plausible explanations for how music interventions promote attachment and psychosocial adaptation in adolescents; however, the more widely accepted models involve structured audio signals and cortisol levels (Chen et al, 2019). Regarding structured audio signals, music is a highly structured audio signal that can be described in the following formal musical terms: timbre, harmony, melody, rhythm, tempo, genre, lyrics, and structure (Vatolkin et al, 2012).…”

“…Previous studies have indicated that high levels of cortisol are associated with various disorders, such as depression, social anxiety, and psychosocial development (Garcia, 2019; Kanehisa et al, 2017). In one study involving Taiwanese early adolescents, cortisol reductions significantly differed over time after a group music intervention (C. J. Chen et al, 2019).…”

“…A 2018 meta-analysis (Geipel et al, 2018) indicated that music-based interventions may be effective in reducing the severity of internalizing problems in adolescents. Listening to music positively affects early adolescents' mood, and preferred-music therapy may be an effective nonpharmacologic alternative to breaking the intergenerational cycle of insecure attachment in Taiwanese early adolescents (Chen et al, 2019). Music-based interventions represent a noninvasive intervention model that employs the systematic use of music (Judde & Rickard, 2010).…”

Effects of 16 Weeks of Cheerleading on Physical Self-Esteem and Mental Health of Female College Students

“…The evidence supporting exercise as a treatment for depression is compelling, but what kind of exercise, amount of exercise, frequency, and intensity are necessary to make a significant difference ( Amrita et al, 2018 ). Early adolescents with more severe depression may see greater improvement with preferred music therapy ( Chen et al, 2019 ). In this study, we suggest that the combination of exercise and music may have a more beneficial effect on the treatment of depression than exercise or music alone.…”