How Can Music Engagement Address Loneliness? A Qualitative Study and Thematic Framework in the Context of Australia’s COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns

Abstract

Social isolation and loneliness are serious public health concerns. Music engagement can strengthen social connections and reduce loneliness in some contexts, although how this occurs is not well understood; research suggests that music’s capacity to manipulate perceptions of time and space is relevant. This study adopted a qualitative perspective to examine how music engagement shaped the experiences of residents of Victoria, Australia, during conditions of restricted social contact during the lockdowns of 2020. Semi-structured interviews explored participants’ lived musical experiences while giving focus to perceptions of time and space (e.g., how music helped restructure home and workspaces in response to lockdown regulations, or punctuate time where older routines were no longer viable). Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the interview transcripts identified five themes representing the key findings: (1) a super-ordinate theme of perceived control, which comprises four themes: (2) dynamic connection; (3) identity; (4) mobility; (5) presence. Each theme describes one generalised aspect of the way music engagement shaped participants’ perceptions of time and space during lockdown and supported their processes of adaptation to and coping with increased social isolation. The authors argue that these findings may inform the way music can be used to address loneliness in everyday life.

Seks dimensioner af adgang til kunst og kultur for ensomme ældre i Musikalske Besøgsvenner

“…Denne relation mellem musik og minder nedbryder samtidig graenserne for, hvad vores mobilitet tillader og hvor vi kan bevaege os hen. Musikkens evne til at facilitere en fornemmelse af mobilitet er også tidligere blevet bemaerket af et studie, der har adresseret relationer mellem isolation, ensomhed og musik blandt australiere under nedlukningerne i 2020 (Kiernan & Davidson 2022). I denne periode tilbød musik en mulighed for at bevaege sig ind og ud af alternative steder og midlertidigt fornemme en opløsning af fysiske strukturer som hjemmets begraensende rum.…”

Musical Activity as Avoidance-Based Emotion Regulation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence Across Continents

“…Additionally, a qualitative study by Kiernan and Davidson (2023) used in-depth interviews to examine how music helped participants cope with experiences of social isolation during lockdown in Australia and described the findings in terms of five key themes (perceived control, dynamic connection, identity, mobility, and presence). A repeated measures study by Krause et al (2021) also surveyed Australian undergraduates every 2 weeks between April and June 2020, with participants being asked to indicate their life satisfaction, as well as their engagement with four specific types of media: listening to music; video/computer gaming; watching films, television, or any other video streaming; and on social media.…”