• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.113-133
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a community-based group singing program on the quality of life, loneliness, and depression among older adults living alone in the community. The study employed a one-group pretest-posttest design with 27 older adults who utilized community social welfare services. Participants took part in the community-based group singing program for a total of 12 sessions, each lasting 50 minutes, at a frequency of 1 to 2 times per week. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted to measure changes in quality of life, loneliness, and depression. The program was structured into three stages based on the participatory process model of community music therapy. Stage 1 focused on fostering sense of community through music participation, Stage 2 aimed at developing group attachment through musical cooperation and mutual emotional support, and Stage 3 sought to enhance self-efficacy and self-actualization within the musical community. The results showed a significant improvement in the participants' quality of life scores (p < .001) and a statistically significant reduction in loneliness (p < .001) and depression levels (p = .001) after the program. These findings suggest that community-based music therapy program can be beneficial in enhancing quality of life and alleviating social isolation among older adults in an era of rapid population aging. The current study also presents evidence of the effectiveness of community-based music therapy programs for older adults in South Korea.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.63-84
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-perceived benefits from singing and the quality of life of older adults aged 75 years and older. A total of 231 older adults participated in this study with 141 of them living alone and 90 of them living with others. Each participant was instructed to complete the investigator-constructed questionnaire and the Quality of Life scale. The questionnaire consisted of 49 items on demographic information, involvement in leisure activities and singing-related experiences, and perceived benefits from singing. The results showed that the amount of involvement in leisure activities and the measured quality of life were found to differ between the two subgroups of older adults living with and without others. The number of older adults who had singing-related experiences was also differed between the groups. A positive correlation was found between the amount of self-perceived benefit from singing and quality of life. These results indicate that self-perceived benefits from singing could be an important factor for the quality of life of older adults. This study supports the potential benefits of incorporating singing as an active leisure activity into interventions for older adults, expanding the research that has been extensively based on listening-based interventions. Also, it presents clinical implications for how singing interventions and programs could be designed and suggested to support this population to better cope with their life issues and enhance the quality of life.

• 재활복지
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.165-186
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to compare adults' with intellectual disabilities voice pitch between who have choir experiences and those who do not. Participants were a total of 21 male adults with intellectual disabilities (12 choir group members and 9 non-choir group). Praat test was conducted to compare the characteristics of pitch, produced by the participants while they were singing in their comfortable pitch range. The results showed that the range of melodic contour in the choir group was broader and higher than those of the non choir group. Participants in the choir group produced a lower pitch in the beginning note, and they produced a higher pitch compared to the non-choir group on the highest and lowest note of the song. An analysis on the pitch of the individual note that the participants produced revealed a gap between the expected pitch notes and the actual notes produced while singing. In all syllables of the song, participants in the choir group showed higher accuracy of the pitch production, and significantly more accurate on the perfect fifth and eighth intervals. Regarding to the relative pitch, participants in the choir group produced significantly more accurate notes on perfect fifth, perfect fourth, and perfect eighth intervals. Findings of the study suggest that constant singing experience enable them to have pitch training. It also implies for further studies regarding to singing abilities of adults with intellectual disabilities.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.536-546
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• 2009

This study was done to investigate the effect of stress on appetite and eating habits, and other health-related behaviors. The subjects of this study consisted of 188 males and 224 females in Ulsan area. The results were as follows: When stressed, 56% (n = 231) of the subjects experienced a change in appetite and of these, 32% (n = 132) experienced an increased appetite. Stress-induced eating may be one factor contributing to the development of obesity. There was a gender-specific response to stress in which women are more likely to use food to deal with stress, whereas men are more likely to use alcohol consumption or smoking. It was found that types of stressors were individual (52.9%), social (50.7%), family relations (34.5%), work demands (34.2%) and physical environment (32.3%). Stress-induced symptoms of the subjects were anxiety (38.3%), headache (36.7%) and neck or shoulder aches (36.2%), and females experienced those symptoms more than males. Those older than 50 years had a higher eating habit score and lower stress score compared with younger subjects. There were significant differences between sex, age, occupation, family type, BMI, exercise, sleeping hours and eating habits or stress level. This study may be helpful in advancing findings in this area to better provide health professionals with appropriate counseling tools to improve the health of all individuals.