THE EFFECT OF COMMUNITY-BASED GROUP MUSIC THERAPY ON QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain a richer understanding of the effect of community-based group music therapy on quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities through the insights of four sub-groups in two community-based group music therapy choirs: choir members (people with developmental disabilities), parents/caregivers, choir leaders (music therapists) and the program supervisor. The study provided valuable feedback concerning how satisfied persons with developmental disabilities were with the group music therapy services that they had received, what benefits the choir members had derived from participating in the community-based group music therapy choirs, and how the benefits were related to the choir members' quality of life. Data were collected in group and individual interviews that were conducted with 29 individuals consisting of 18 choir members, 8 parents/caregivers, 2 choir leaders and 1 program supervisor. Key statements of each subgroup were summarized according to the transcript texts. Global themes shared by part or all of the subgroups were identified by comparing and contrasting subgroups' key statements. The result of this study showed that there is a significant positive effect of community-based group music therapy on the quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities in the five categories of "emotional well-being," "social inclusion," "interpersonal relations," "self-determination," "personal development" and eleven subcategories of "safety," "self-concept," "happiness," "community integration/participation," "lifestyle," "friendships," "family relationships," "personal control," "choices," "education," and "skills." Thirty global themes of the effect of community-based group music therapy on quality of life for people with developmental disabilities shared by part or all of the subgroups were identified and described.