Abstract
Stress is increasingly being recognized as one of the main factors that is negatively affecting our health, and therefore there is a need to regulate daily stress and prevent long-term stress. This need seems particularly important for adults with mild intellectual disabilities (MID) who have been shown to have more difficulties coping with stress than adults without intellectual disabilities. Hence, the development of music therapy interventions for stress reduction, particularly within populations where needs may be greater, is becoming increasingly important. In order to gain more insight into the practice-based knowledge on how music therapists lower stress levels of their patients with MID during music therapy sessions, we conducted focus group interviews with music therapists working with adults with MID (N = 13) from different countries and clinical institutions in Europe. Results provide an overview of the most-used interventions for stress reduction within and outside of music. Data-analysis resulted in the further specification of therapeutic goals, intervention techniques, the use of musical instruments, and related therapeutic change factors. The main findings indicate that music therapists used little to no receptive (e.g., music listening) interventions for stress reduction, but preferred to use active interventions, which were mainly based on musical improvisation. Results show that three therapy goals for stress relief could be distinguished. The goal of “synchronizing” can be seen as a sub goal because it often precedes working on the other two goals of “tension release” or “direct relaxation,” which can also be seen as two ways of reaching stress reduction in adults with MID through music therapy interventions. Furthermore, the tempo and the dynamics of the music are considered as the most important musical components to reduce stress in adults with MID. Practical implications for stress-reducing music therapy interventions for adults with MID are discussed as well as recommendations for future research.
Highlights
Stress reduction has become increasingly important in health care practices of many professional fields, including music therapy
This especially may be the case for adults with mild intellectual disabilities (MID1), who have been shown to experience much more stress in daily life than people without intellectual disabilities (Emerson, 2003; Hatton and Emerson, 2004; Schuengel and Janssen, 2006), having fewer resources to cope with daily life stress (Lunsky and Benson, 2001; Hartley and MacLean, 2009b; Scott and Havercamp, 2014)
Three types of therapeutic goals were mentioned by the music therapists related to stress reduction in adults with MID: synchronizing with the patient, releasing stress or tension, and stimulating relaxation
Summary
Stress reduction has become increasingly important in health care practices of many professional fields, including music therapy. Many people have found ways to adequately cope with stress and its possible negative consequences, it still appears to be difficult for a substantial number of people to cope with daily stressors, and the demands of contemporary life (Holahan et al, 2005; World Health Organization [WHO], 2010; Casey, 2017; De Witte et al, 2020b). This especially may be the case for adults with mild intellectual disabilities (MID1), who have been shown to experience much more stress in daily life than people without intellectual disabilities (Emerson, 2003; Hatton and Emerson, 2004; Schuengel and Janssen, 2006), having fewer resources to cope with daily life stress (Lunsky and Benson, 2001; Hartley and MacLean, 2009b; Scott and Havercamp, 2014). More and more studies are published on the effects of music therapy on stress-related outcomes (see for an overview: De Witte et al, 2020a), more information is needed regarding specific techniques, instruments, supposed change factors, requisites, and procedures within these interventions
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