Effects of the Therapist's Nonverbal Behavior on Participation and Affect of Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease During Group Music Therapy Sessions

Journal

Journal of Music Therapy

Year

2010

Volume

47

Issue

3

First Page

289

Last Page

299

Abstract

In healthcare settings, medical professionals' nonverbal behavior impacts patients' satisfaction and long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of a music therapist's nonverbal behavior, affect and proximity, on participation and affect of 38 individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other related dementia (ADRD) during movement- to-music, singing, and instrument playing. Data indicated 62% of the individuals evinced positive affect when the therapist utilized affect and proximity combined, followed by the affect only condition (53%), proximity only condition (30%), and no affect or proximity condition (28%). A Friedman analysis indicated a significant difference in individuals' affect according to treatment conditions, xr² (3, 4) = 34.05, p = .007. Nonverbal behavior also impacted individuals' accuracy of participation, with participation at 79% for both affect and proximity combined, 75% for affect only, 71% for no affect or proximity, and 70% for proximity only. A significant difference occurred for participation by treatment conditions, F (3, 111) = 4.05, p = .009, η² = .10. Clinical implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Music and Health Institute Terms

Alzheimer's and Related Dementias; Behavioral State; Body Impr; Emotional Functioning; Improvisation; Mental Health; Mood; Music Therapy; Neurodegenerative Disorders; Playing an Instrument; Recreative Music Methods; Singing a Song; Wellness and Well-Being

Indexed Terms

therapist's nonverbal behavior; Alzheimer's disease; group music therapy; patients' satisfaction; participation; affect; well being; dementia; Nonverbal Communication; Therapists; Client Satisfaction; Emotional Responses

Study Type

Quasi-Experimental Study; Quantitative Methods

Disciplines

Music Therapy

Document Type

Article

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