Music therapy with bereaved teenagers: a mixed methods perspective

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Music Therapy
• Adolescent Grief

Background:

• Adolescent grief is a complex emotional experience.
• Music is a significant part of adolescent culture, facilitating connection and expression.
• Previous qualitative studies suggest music therapy may benefit bereaved teenagers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of music therapy in a support group format for bereaved adolescents.
• To explore how music therapy influences self-perception and coping mechanisms in grieving teenagers.
• To confirm previous qualitative findings on music therapy for adolescent grief.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory analysis was employed.
• Focus group interviews were conducted with bereaved teenagers participating in music therapy.
• Qualitative data was collected and analyzed to identify themes and patterns.

Main Results:

• Music therapy facilitated connectedness and emotional expression among bereaved adolescents.
• Significant improvements in adolescent coping strategies were observed.
• No significant changes in self-perception were found as a direct result of participation.
• Results are limited in generalizability due to a small sample size.

Conclusions:

• Music therapy groups can be a valuable tool for supporting adolescents experiencing grief.
• The findings support the use of music's inherent appeal to engage young people in therapeutic settings.
• Further research with larger sample sizes and grief-specific tools is recommended to quantify the emotional impact.