Exploring Young Adults' Perspectives of Participation in a Mindfulness-Based Music Therapy Intervention Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Carolyn S Phillips, Julianna Bockhoff, Donna L Berry, Elizabeth Buchbinder, A Lindsay Frazier, Ann LaCasce, Jennifer Ligibel, Marlise R Luskin, Heather Woods, Robert Knoerl
Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology February 8, 2023 DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2022.0090 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 16 |
| Population | Adolescents and young adults (20-39 years old) who received cancer treatment and participated in a mindfulness-based music therapy intervention for anxiety and stress |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based music therapy |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Music therapy Qualitative research Adolescent Young adult Pandemics Covid-19 Complementary therapies Psycho-oncology |
| Registration | NCT03709225 |
| Key findings | Participants reported relaxation from the mindfulness-based music therapy intervention. In-person participants felt connected to the music and to family members present, while virtual participants felt connected to mindfulness and described music and mindfulness practice as synergistic. Virtual participants reported difficulty finding a private place to attend sessions, and in-person delivery was preferred over virtual delivery, though virtual delivery may be more feasible. |
Abstract
Purpose: To explore adolescent and young adults' (AYAs) experiences with participation in a mindfulness-based music therapy intervention during cancer treatment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Sixteen young adults (20-39 years old) who received cancer treatment and participated in a mindfulness-based music therapy intervention for anxiety and stress were interviewed using a semistructured interview guide. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The interview guide contained prompts about reasons for joining the study, usual coping strategies, experience with the in-person and virtual delivery formats of the intervention, and suggestions for improvement. Themes were derived from the data using inductive content analysis methods.
Results: Findings from the interviews included the following: (1) virtual group participants reported difficulty finding a private place to attend the intervention sessions, (2) participants experienced a sense of relaxation in response to intervention participation, (3) in-person group participants felt a sense of connection to the music and their family members who were present during the intervention, while virtual group participants felt a sense of connection to mindfulness, (4) virtual group participants reported that practicing music and mindfulness together was synergistic, and (5) in-person intervention delivery was preferred to virtual intervention delivery.
Conclusion: This study provides insight into the contextual factors that impact satisfaction with the intervention and the effect of the intervention on anxiety and stress. Overall, while virtual mindfulness-based music therapy delivery may be more feasible, there are still important advantages to in-person delivery that should be considered in the design of future mindfulness-based music therapy interventions. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03709225.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.