Music: a milieu factor with implications for the nurse-therapist

The effects of one type of music upon the social interactions observed in a group play therapy with ten male children, ages 8 to 10, were studied. A behavioral check list was developed to measure five target behaviors: the children's verbalizations, proximity with group members, proximity with the group co-therapists, involvement in toy exchanges and involvement in acts of physical aggression. The resulting statistical analysis of tabulated data suggests music to be a factor in an increased number of social interactions. Consideration of such a milieu factor as music may prove valuable in many varying situations.