MESOC Serapeum | Where culture meets AI

Id		775
Author		Sunderland N., Lewandowski N., Bendrups D., Bartleet B.-L.
Title		Music, health and wellbeing: Exploring music for health equity and social justice
Reference		Sunderland N., Lewandowski N., Bendrups D., Bartleet B.-L.; Music, health and wellbeing: Exploring music for health equity and social justice ;Music, Health and Wellbeing: Exploring Music for Health Equity and Social Justice vol: issue: page:1.0
Link to article		https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042433652&doi=10.1057%2f978-1-349-95284-7&partnerID=40&md5=895d7f22501071f65f216778426ac29b
Abstract		This book explores the power music has to address health inequalities and the social determinants of health and wellbeing. It examines music participation as a determinant of wellbeing and as a transformative tool to impact on wider social, cultural and environmental conditions. Uniquely, in this volume health and wellbeing outcomes are conceptualised on a continuum, with potential effects identified in relation to individual participants, their communities but also society at large. While arts therapy approaches have a clear place in the text, the emphasis is on music making outside of clinical contexts and the broader roles musicians, music facilitators and educators can play in enhancing wellbeing in a range of settings beyond the therapy room. This innovative edited collection will be of great interest to scholars and practitioners of music, social services, medical humanities, education and the broader health field in the social and medical sciences. © The Editor(s) and The Author(s) 2018.

Results:

Candidate transition variables
2. Spiritually uplifting, as it enhances the mood and energises the spirit. .
These emotional, social, and cognitive benefits may well be powerful protective factors working to enhance health, particularly relating to reducing stress and promoting a sense of wellbeing and happiness. .
In other words, well-being is a strongly desired outcome for modern everyday life. .
Some experienced exhilarating transpersonal feelings of happiness, joy and well-being. .
In addition, it is clear that the activity was highly valued in contributing to overall well-being and quality of life. .
It is also enjoyable, meaningful and emotionally uplifting. .
Health equity exists when all peoples have equal opportunity to achieve health and well-being as determined by the circumstances that shape their lives. .
They also reported improved health benefits, such as reduced medications for some members, and improved working capacity and enhanced daily life routines for others. .
People of relatively more socioeconomic status have better health and longevity, while people of relatively less socioeconomic status have worse health and longevity, people somewhere in the middle experience middling health and longevity and so on. .
Over time, it is expected that this may contribute towards positive health outcomes for those participating, and potentially the wider community. .
But, interestingly, upbeat and happy mood are not the only moods reported. .
He described it as a personal reward. .
Finally, in groups, it involves social interaction and coordination and can generate feelings of belonging and social support. .
This led to an enhanced relationship, which spread out into other facets of her life in the hostel as she began to relate to others. .
A high level of enjoyment and engagement with the sessions was found, which supported easier communication and social engagement. .
Many studies have shown that singers report a wide range of social, psychological, spiritual, and health benefits associated with singing, and in this study we hypothesised that choral singing has a positive effect on a number of important dimensions of the choristers quality of life. .
(2017, forthcoming) The findings of this study supported the study hypothesis that choral singing is associated with enhanced health and well-being, in particular with the physical, psychological, and social dimensions of well-being. .
The choristers considered that they received major positive and beneficial effects from their choir activity. .
As a result of joining the choir, I had a social outlet and I found singing to be very therapeutic. .
Raising mood and relieving stress were amongst the most frequently mentioned psychological benefits of singing. .
The comments made by choristers emphasised how choral singing resulted in improving their quality of life by providing a relaxed and calm environment where all could enjoy a sense of unity and friendship. .
Findings from this study suggest that choral singing plays a very important role in psychological health as a component of the quality of life and also has benefits for emotional well-being. .
It is reasonable to argue that singing plays an important part in maintaining a positive perception of stable physical health. .
Some of the reasons were music-related (the importance of singing in their lives and experiencing pleasure from singing without pressure); however, interestingly, the majority of the reasons were tied to social and health benefits. .
Supporting previous research, participation in the singing group provided the opportunity to experience benefits to health and well-being, including experiencing and working through emotions, socialising with other people and sharing experiences and creating purpose and meaning in life. .
This improves significantly after involvement in singing or music listening activities (Koelsch et al. 2010), demonstrating the powerful nature of emotional expression through music. .
Choir singing is one intervention that combines language and music in safe and enjoyable ways. .
When choir members become synchronised, they experience feelings of well-being. .
Accordingly, choir singing was found to relax the vagus nerve, resulting in feelings of well-being and connectedness. .
This can be of benefit when depressed choir members practise their songs between choir meetings. .
They also reported significant improvements to their quality of life, emotional well-being, self-confidence and appreciation of singing. .
Their research suggested that the choir engendered positive feelings, joyful and uplifting experiences, positive moods, increased happiness and enjoyment and distraction from internal negative thoughts and feelings. .
Choir participation generated improved moods and social interactions. .
They described increased positive feelings and well-being, reduced stress, improved self-perceptions, improved singing abilities, feelings of belonging to a group, connecting with the local community, increased social networks and social functioning. .
Some participant comments supported these results: Just singing uplifts me and definitely had a positive effect on my state of mind; social interactions been good, feel like we really achieved something. .
The choir leader found that the choir singing promoted social engagement, lessening depressive symptoms. .
Conclusion This chapter explored the power of music to improve depressive symptoms through therapeutic and community choirs, thereby improving health equity and promoting social justice. .
Health and Well-Being Benefits of Singing for Older People Introduction Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. .
Much of this research has focused on the value of singing for older people in community and care settings. .
This review provides an overview of the growing body of research evidence on the value of singing for the well-being and health of older people. .
It reported strong evidence on the positive effects of singing on feelings of happiness and well-being. .
Choir members reported that singing increases happiness, gives a positive attitude to life, improves well-being and releases negative feelings. .
Hearing the harmonies helps me forget family worries When recovering from a major stroke, singing was one of the ways of lifting my spirits out of depression Deep breathing, essential for singing, is one method of helping with signs of anxiety and stress You are kept fit by choral singing because you breathe correctly and engage your whole body in the activity I think choral singing is a particularly valuable and worthwhile activity with a real sense of achievement at a time when one might be feeling ones usefulness is declining The themes reflected in these comments are found in further studies of older singers in established choirs throughout the world. .
Significant benefits in quality of life for the singers were found, including reduced levels of anxiety and depression at three months, and improved mental health-related quality of life at three months and six months follow up. .
Improvements may reflect the muscle strengthening effects of singing. .
Qualitative feedback from patients in both studies indicates clear physical, psychological and social benefits from singing. .
Group singing was described as an enjoyable social activity and participation was perceived as improving mood, language, breathing and voice. .
Mood was particularly found to increase for those who had lower mental well-being, and patients and carers (who also had the highest levels of depression) experienced the greatest short-term improvement in mood across the singing session. .
Qualitative data showed clearly that singing promoted well-being for all participants. .
The social experience of group singing with people experiencing similar problems was important. .
Level of engagement in the singing activity was also associated with the degree of improvement. .
Furthermore, the group members expressed positive feelings after each singing session, with an increased sense of accomplishment and belonging. .
The programme objective was for participants to discover and experience the joy of singing. .
The choir experience helped participants gain a sense of community and a sense of purpose; it increased their confidence, mood, energy, and alertness; and it established a positive climate. .
Participation in the choir made them feel part of the community, improved their mood and made them feel valued, giving purpose to their lives. .
Interestingly, participants chose to learn new songs and felt that this was the main benefit of the choir. .
The study concluded that a music therapist-led choir was an effective psychosocial intervention for reducing depression and improving quality of life in older adults. .
As one participant, Joy, noted, when people can sing in their mother language it creates happiness. .
Nevertheless, individuals felt excited, happy and proud to sing songs in their own language, indicating elements of strong self-identity. .
Therapeutic choirs have the ability to decrease mental health symptoms and provide coping strategies for dealing with life in new and motivating ways. .
Fancourt et al. (2016) showed that group singing can significantly reduce stress, improve mood and reduce cortisol, beta-endorphin and oxytocin levels in cancer patients. .
Both singing and music listening were more effective in alleviating depression, especially in persons with mild, Alzheimer-type dementia. .
He found that depressive symptoms in the singing group were reduced, mean quality of life score improved, and there was a statistically significant increase in cognitive functioning. .
Choral singing also impacted on social health and wellbeing positively through feeling excitement and importance to life (p < 0.01), as well as longer duration of involvement in the choir (p < 0.05), after adjusting for the effects from socio-demographic variables in the models. .
This included a sense of social engagement, a perception of positive identity as choir members, and feelings of excitement at being involved in group singing. .
Choir members reported a sense of purpose and satisfaction for contributing to their community. .
The efficacy of therapeutic choirs leads to improving quality of life for older people, giving them new opportunities that promote meaning and purpose. .
The studies reviewed so far provide an encouraging picture of benefits associated with group singing for people with dementia. .
More recent studies, however, continue to provide evidence of positive benefits from singing. .
The study demonstrates that singing can have a very positive role to play in helping those who suffer from dementia and Alzheimers to have a better quality of life and live more harmoniously with fellow residents and carers. .
In these ways, music comprised a universal function to this diverse group and contributed to positive well-being outcomes for participants. .
In addition, improvements were found in respiratory variables measured by standard spirometry, including increases in maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (confirming findings from studies with patients with COPD that singing can help with lung function). .
This research gives further support for the role of therapeutic choirs to promote social capital and health equity in community settings. .
Music making activities can therefore positively contribute to a sense of well-being for participants through the promotion of music as part of personal and social identity. .
Applied ethnomusicology projects can also have more intangible ends, such as contributing to the vitality of a cultural movement, or even simply imbuing a given cultural practice or cultural group with respect and dignity. .
The ultimate purpose of designing the accompaniment, and the film itself, in this way reflects a desire to connect culturally with the intended audience, in a way that foregrounds culture as a vital contribution towards the social determinants of health for the communities involved in this project. .
However, this chapter explores how participation in performing arts also benefits some requirements for survival: health and well-being. .
The Arts, Indigenous Peoples and the Social Determinants of Health As studies have shown, because the arts are so deeply entwined in the continuation of culture and tradition (AIHW 2009; CA 2009; Marmion et al. 2014), they have the capacity to play an integral role in promoting Aboriginal peoples health and well-being and impacting upon the SDOH. .
In this way, the lifelong learning established as a part of arts participation is also impactful on the health determinant Language, Heritage, and Strong Cultural Identity. .
As a result, the current study supports the notion that arts-based practices can encourage connections within community and strengthen social capital, and thus may also contribute towards favourable health outcomes for community members. .
As the brief illustrations in this chapter have shown, participating in a documentary process designed to promote the continuation of culture and participating in a community festival designed to bring cultures together can play an important role in the health and well-being of First Peoples and culturally diverse community more broadly. .
Previous studies have highlighted positive relationships between music participation, health and well-being in terms of social, emotional, cognitive and physical health, musicianship, spiritual, identity, self-improvement and life satisfaction benefits. .
Such motivations can be related to the perceived health and well-being benefits of participating in music making activities. .
Their programmes have demonstrated significant psychological and social benefits, but also that crucial bio-markers that underpin not only feelings of well-being and relaxation but also markers of immune system activity, were improved. .
Researchers found that health and longevity are substantially better among people who have more friends and are more involved in social and community life. .
At a broader level, strong social relationships and a sense of connectedness and participation in communities have been shown to have a profound impact on health, and consistent evidence indicates that a sense of connectedness is protective of mental and emotional well-being. .
The notion of connectedness between human beings, their physical and social environment, and their health, has emerged as an important feature of health promotion and the building and strengthening of human capital, social capital, and, to a lesser extent, cultural capital. .
It was also possible that the group sessions would provide support and an element of fun and thereby improve quality of life. .
This broader research project has a strong health dimension, given that participation in the arts and cultural sector has been shown to not only result in economic benefits for regions but also assist in building resilient communities and improving physical, mental and social wellbeing (Allain 2011). .
The importance of such considerations, and the fostering of such bonds within a community, has been shown to contribute to the health of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people (AFN 2013). .
Furthermore, the strengthening of cross-cultural relations may increase social participation and integration within the community, which can have a positive impact on community health and well-being outcomes (Schulz and Northridge 2004). .
The findings highlight how arts-based activities can be a catalyst for positive cross-cultural relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people residing in remote regions within Australia, and this may lay the foundation for positive community health and well-being outcomes. .
It examines music participation as a determinant of wellbeing and as a transformative tool to impact on wider social, cultural and environmental conditions. .
Thus, consideration of these three aspects that are broadly related to artistic and cultural influences, can contribute to broadening current understandings of SDOH and well-being. .
This learning was also characterised as enabling community members to better understand their culture, and further enable the storying of their culture. .
In terms of the current study, arts-based practices and the organisation of the Festival, in part, contributed towards relations within this community favourably impacted social capital. .
Working from the belief that art is a healing tool, the Downtown Eastside Centre for the Arts has created opportunities to affect personal change by providing guided art practice in a safe and supportive setting. .
Consequently, researchers and others have recognised the potential for the arts to encourage positive health outcomes by providing effective treatment and support to alleviate health issues while also protecting against future ill health. .
The earlier mentioned studies provide a preliminary knowledge base to understand how participating in the arts can encourage favourable individual and family level health behaviours, and access to culturally safe services. .
Cultural Expression In the Scattered People sessions, participants were encouraged to share aspects of their own culture, while also participating in musical activities from other cultures. .
They help to build useful individual capacities for active participation in society give all children, young people and communities access to cultural offerings, promote social integration, strengthen cultural and educational processes in the country and promote cultural diversity. .
Arts programmes offer this segment of the population valuable skills and networks which can increase self-esteem and build status within their communities. .
Our Contributors The chapters presented in this book provide a range of perspectives on the role of the arts, and of music in particular, in fostering and maintaining health and well-being. .
It can lead to a new understanding of peoples learning processes, both in terms of emotion and cognition. .
In a healing session, music that is specialised for the individual forms a kind of channel or vehicle of transformation that carries the person from the present state of pain, stress, confusion or illness, to a new desired state of wellness, peace, clarity or health. .
Music, as a primer and practice of psychological flexibility can facilitate health and healing, and by entering a state of psychological flexibility, can also have a transformative effect on the brain itself through its inherent capacity of neuroplasticity (see Koen 2013). .
Music, as a vehicle of meaning and a practice that can activate the neuroflexible response of the brain can be a key part of a healing process that seeks to embody (or embeing) the meaning of health and healing. .
From this vantage point, music as a quintessential primer of psychological flexibility not only can constitute effective interventions and treatments but also can increase well-being for individuals, groups and society. .
Because these projects increase artistic skill, they can also be considered to enhance educational status via informal education. .
The approach deeply nurtures an individuals multi-sensory engagement with the world and allows him or her to develop in a way that benefits him or her, on his or her own terms, yet in a way that offers benefits of skill and esteem. .
Participants indicated that their involvement in arts-based activities provided them with the opportunity to learn new skills that contributed towards their receipt of employment. .
From these data, it can be concluded that community arts approaches that pursue professionalisation on an ongoing basis are special when it comes to increasing socioeconomic status through the arts. .
The musical projects documented in this chapter thus increased arts professionalisation, enhanced the socioeconomic status of participants and promoted that social determinants positive health implications. .
They developed human health-benefiting resources of status and capacity to build status via arts in a community of urban poverty, and in this way, furthered health equity and promoted social justice (equality of opportunity) of the poor. .
The insights shared in this chapter about the creative and community-driven processes of making a documentary on country or running a community festival will resonate strongly with those who work in the arts, but when viewed through a SDOH lens, these insights offer an additional dimension that speaks to the influence such activities can have from the individual to the community and organisational level. .
This suggests that emotional function of music in ceremonies has the capacity to be used flexibly and for a range of beneficial outcomes. .
In particular, this promising theoretical model can be focused on well-being by considering how experiencing different levels of pleasure, arousal and dominance in combination might better promote health and well-being through music engagement. .
Music can generate positive responses and play an important role in emotional expression and mood modulation. .
Being able to sing in ones first language afforded individuals the opportunity to express not only aspects of their culture but also an articulation of their thoughts and feelings. .
More than that, participation in the arts offers the opportunities for the personal to become political, the individual become the communal offering multifaceted calls to action. .
In this continuing developmental process, each of the music theatre productions can include workshops, training sessions, mentorship networks, conferences and, of course, rehearsals in music, dance, visual arts and theatre. .
In addition, a community arts approach to increasing professionalisation in the musical arts, on a recurring basis, was highly inclusive of people in marginal life situations and remained so while progressively building skills of participants. .
Given that in order to experience benefits from music making, people must be involved in a musical activity, it is important to consider how facilitators stimulate engagement opportunities (e.g., music educators, community music leaders) and then promote long-term investment in individuals. .
Music for Life is a practice that involves the engagement and learning of musicians, care staff, and residents as a group through the arts. .
How can employment in the arts promote health equity, and what do community arts (centrally involving musical expressions) contribute? .
We are looking at how music can help cultivate local talents and empower people to become more involved in their community. .
With this, and the subsequent contributions of others, we can more fully participate in and promote the experience of music and health for all. .
Music offers ownership and engagement, and this project illustrated the huge benefits that can accrue to the individuals and groups involved in a music/dance project. .
Increased self-esteem, the development of new skills, and increased connectedness both within the school and between the participants and the wider community were very apparent and the sense of empowerment, particularly at the dance-off signature event, was palpable. .
Participants valued the opportunity to sing with others, and liked the organisation of the clubs. .
Consideration of these psycho-social-cultural determinants gives us the opportunity to research and establish the links between music, health, and well-being. .
Indeed, this activity was emphasised by participants as being integral to their well-being and was recognised as a quick and effective method for connecting with others. .
Sustainable Community Development Building healthy communities that are sustainable is a primary goal of our time. .
In addition to The Edges openplan design, the ethos of the venue is one of equity and access, making the tools of digital creativity available to the broader community. .
Participation in community activities is recognised as a protective factor in relation to health outcomes. .
When designing future research on health and well-being, this model offers an interesting framework and has clear implications for practice. .
For instance, by engaging in practices that build upon and develop ones capacity of psychological flexibility, the dynamic underlying quality of the brains neural plasticity is activated and compelled towards that which the particular practices are directed. .
5. Offers relaxation, which reduces stress and anxiety. .
Gaining skills in performing arts, including towards employment, may be understood as increasing socioeconomic status, which is a social determinant of health. .
Yet at the tangible level of the every day of artists who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, increasing their levels of skill, professionali-sation and, in so doing, socioeconomic status can have powerful effects on their lives and employment situations. .
Promoting employment of the unemployed, via arts, for instance, can thus be understood as promoting socioeconomic status and thereby health. .
The artistic activities pay participants and participating groups a fee or honourarium, thereby helping with income and occupational pride. .
For example, a BRA staff member indicated that participating in the Living Cultures project and learning about country encouraged their stronger understanding of Aboriginal art, and the deeper connection between the arts, and Aboriginal history. .
Where performance traditions are concerned, this means that particular performance genres can be used effectively as vehicles for health promotion, as is the case with wayang kulit in this project, by capitalising on their resonance as items of cultural heritage. .
The study shares ethnographic and media data with a view to increasing knowledge of successful arts-developmental approaches that increase socioeconomic status and related benefits. .
In this way, participants in the programme were able to connect with and maintain a sense of individuality within the culturally based plurality among participants. .
Given that cultural expression and identity contributed to the health and well-being of culturally and linguistically diverse participants within this study, there is a strong argument towards also including cultural expression and identity as a determinant within SDOH models for culturally and linguistically diverse groups, newcomers and refugees and asylum seekers. .
Cultural backgrounds often reflect in the musical expressions and provide opportunities to share each others traditions. .
On the one hand, performing arts can be the content or context for health promotion campaigns, with initiatives encompassing everything from popular songs, to television advertisements, specific fundraising campaigns and other participation-oriented health promotion activities. .
In addition to these developments in music (and of course those that are ongoing in music therapy, dance therapy and expressive arts therapy), all areas of music and the arts can have a part to play in music and health for all. .
Conclusion: Health Equity Benefits of Increasing Employment Possibilities via Community Arts This qualitative study illustrated that socioeconomic status increases for participants in VMT music theatre productions, festivals and community-engaged arts initiatives. .
Taking part in performing arts, in particular singing in a choir and dancing with a group of people, is associated with both increased social affiliation and health (Kreutz and Murcia 2012; Kreutz 2014). .
Nevertheless, I invite you to consider the multiple roles that music and culture play in all of the areas discussed below. .
They are hoping to use music to help revitalise the town. .
A variety of approaches to inclusivity exists, but community arts engagement is locally adapted. .
Of course, like with any arts activity, the ways in which this is realised are always contextually and culturally specific. .
In contrast to these concerning health and social statistics, within the region, arts and culture are very strong. .
In response to this culturally diverse context, some of BRAs projects like Living Cultures are specifically run for, and with, Aboriginal community members, while others, such as the Desert Harmony Festival, are aimed at bringing Aboriginal and non-Indigenous community members together to present, engage, access and participate in the arts together. .
Finally, participants indicated that the exchange of cultural knowledge between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal persons is a worthwhile process that favourably impacted cross-cultural connections. .
We were hence moving into a territory where arts practice could be both immediately therapeutic for the individuals involved and a broader lever for social inclusion and social justice. .
Within this matrix of social forces, culture and cultural practice can have specific relevance, especially when it comes to notions of traditional ways of doing and ways of being. .
Language, Heritage and Strong Cultural Identity Culture has been identified as an important determinant of health particularly within First Nations communities. .
The Living Cultures project has potentially strengthened relations between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants residing in Tennant Creek through their shared involvement in learning experiences concerning Aboriginal culture and identity. .
As a part of the Living Cultures project, musicians, BRA staff and community members indicated that visiting country provided them the opportunity to share history. .
These findings exemplify how arts-based practices can work as a conduit to facilitate learning about Aboriginal culture and history among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people within remote regions of Australia. .
More attention should thus be paid to these aspects as important determinants of well-being that can be highlighted through interdisciplinary research. .
Downtown Eastside artists are invited to present alongside artists ranging from cultural treasures to students. .
Its built because theres also workshops associated with the festival which engage with different parts of the community... .
This chapter defines musical expressions broadly, to include any form of human expression involving music, such as theatre or dance. .
There remains room in each community arts performance creation to include new participants. .
This chapter promotes an inclusive approach to music making where young, old, well and unwell all benefit from shared experiences of music participation. .
Similarly, McEwan et al. (2013) found that community-based hip hop performance was an effective way to generate discussion and inform people on sexual health issues while also building community connections. .
Music can be a significant agent of change with regard to well-being, communication, and meaningfulness. .
Findings under this component of social capital highlighted the complexity that comes with organising and facilitating a festival and empowering community members to connect with the event and with one another. .
Other factors such as environment and social forces (e.g., poverty, agency, age and social norms) have important roles to play in determining healthy outcomes for individuals and societies. .
As this participant indicated, it needs to be approached in reciprocal ways, where community members feel empowered to contribute. .
These likewise increase the general level of professionalism in subsequent productions and in the community. .
This vocational education, cultural training and employment activity helps to develop local indigenous youth into skilled crafts people with both artistic talent and viable employment skills. .
In addition to these levels of culture, the model also highlights what I call the culture-dependent and culture-transcendent levels of consideration. .

ARTICLE - CANDIDATE TRANSITION VARIABLES

Results: