The Influence of Home-Based Music Therapy Interventions on Relationship Quality in Couples Living with Dementia-An Adapted Convergent Mixed Methods Study

Love songs and serenades: a theoretical review of music and romantic relationships

In this theoretical review, we examine how the roles of music in mate choice and social bonding are expressed in romantic relationships. Darwin's Descent of Man originally proposed the idea that musicality might have evolved as a sexually selected trait. This proposition, coupled with the portrayal of popular musicians as sex symbols and the prevalence of love-themed lyrics in music, suggests a possible link between music and attraction. However, recent scientific exploration of the evolutionary functions of music has predominantly focused on theories of social bonding and group signaling, with limited research addressing the sexual selection hypothesis. We identify two distinct types of music-making for these different functions: music for attraction, which would be virtuosic in nature to display physical and cognitive fitness to potential mates; and music for connection, which would facilitate synchrony between partners and likely engage the same reward mechanisms seen in the general synchrony-bonding effect, enhancing perceived interpersonal intimacy as a facet of love. Linking these two musical functions to social psychological theories of relationship development and the components of love, we present a model that outlines the potential roles of music in romantic relationships, from initial attraction to ongoing relationship maintenance. In addition to synthesizing the existing literature, our model serves as a roadmap for empirical research aimed at rigorously investigating the possible functions of music for romantic relationships.

The experiences of people living with dementia and their care partners participating in an online therapeutic songwriting program

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Despite the impact of dementia on close care relationships, accessible therapeutic services for people living with dementia and their care partners remain scarce. Further, there is an increasing demand for online services, highlighting the need for ongoing telehealth research. This study aimed to explore the experiences of people living with dementia and their informal and formal care partners following participation in a 10-week online therapeutic songwriting program.

METHODS

The songwriting program included four duo and six group sessions facilitated by a music therapist. Post-program semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

FINDINGS

Nine people with dementia and six care partners (nine duos) participated in the program. Five duos were in spousal relationships and four people with dementia participated with a formal care partner. Participants attended an average of four duo sessions and three group sessions. Six people with dementia and five care partners participated in post-program interviews. Four themes were developed: (1) No one else does this; (2) It's all about us as people; (3) After the sessions we'd come out buzzing; and (4) The journey was as important as the product.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants highlighted songwriting as a unique opportunity to connect with music, experience welcomed challenges, and spend 'real time' together. The program drew on participants' lived experience and promoted connection with others, resulting in feelings of enjoyment, enhanced mood, and achievement. Participants valued both the songwriting process and song product, emphasising the importance of sensitive and skilful facilitation. Our findings suggest that these distinct benefits were not available through other support services. Further, online songwriting is a viable option for people living with dementia and their care partners where in-person sessions are not available or accessible.

Home-based music therapy for persons with dementia and their spouses as primary caregivers

Music therapy has been found to be an effective intervention for persons with dementia (PWD) and their primary caregivers (PC), yet the implementation of musical strategies to improve daily care in the home environment requires further exploration. This study developed and examined a home-based music therapy (HBMT) work model that offers weekly joint music therapy sessions, and additional bi-weekly phone-counseling sessions with the PC. This was followed by an additional 12-week support period that included 3 therapy sessions and 3 phone counseling sessions once every other fortnight, so that the same type of session occurred at a frequency of once a month. Participants were five couples (PWD + spouse as PC) who live in their home. Findings based on the qualitative multiple case study research method showed the importance of the music therapist's (MT) continuous support. The MT's presence made it possible to address the needs of both spouses, separately and together, while maintaining the required balance. Moreover, the MT's presence enabled better implementation of the musical strategies independently and this was maintained during the intervention and the support period.

Learning to use music as a resource: the experiences of people with dementia and their family care partners participating in a home-based skill-sharing music intervention: a HOMESIDE sub-study

An increasing number of people with dementia receive informal care from family members to help them remain living in the community. Music therapy is particularly beneficial for supporting the wellbeing of people living with dementia. However, little is known about how music therapy might support people with dementia and their family care partners as dyads. This study explored the experiences of six dyads participating in a 12-week home-based skill-sharing music intervention facilitated by a music therapist. We examined their experiences during the intervention period and in the 3-6 months following. This study was conducted within a larger randomised control trial, HOMESIDE. Data was collected through video-recorded music-based interviews, participant diaries, and a semi-structured interview. Data was analysed using an abductive and relational-centred research approach in consideration of the Contextual Connection Model of Health Musicking for People Living with Dementia and Their Family Care Partners. The study found fifteen themes that describe dyads' supported experiences of sharing music in their homes. These were organised into three global themes: (1) experiences were shaped by complex influences; (2) a connected musical ecosystem; and (3) music was a resource for wellbeing. This study highlighted the important role of personalised facilitation and the therapeutic relationship as dyads learned to use music as a resource through a process of trial and error. The implications for skill-sharing, indirect music therapy and direct music therapy practice are discussed.

Content development and validation for a mobile application designed to train family caregivers in the use of music to support care of people living with dementia

Background

Music therapy is increasingly recognized as an effective support for people living with dementia. However, with incidences of dementia increasing, and limited availability of music therapists, there is a need for affordable and accessible ways that caregivers can learn to use music-therapy based strategies to support the people they care for. The MATCH project aims to address this by creating a mobile application that can train family caregivers in the use of music to support people living with dementia.

Methods

This study details the development and validation of training material for the MATCH mobile application. Training modules developed based on existing research were assessed by 10 experienced music therapist clinician-researchers, and seven family caregivers who had previously completed personalized training in music therapy strategies via the HOMESIDE project. Participants reviewed the content and scored each training module based on content (music therapists) and face (caregivers) validity scales. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate scores on the scales, while thematic analysis was used to analyze short-answer feedback.

Results

Participants scored the content as valid and relevant, however, they provided additional suggestions for improvement via short-answer feedback.

Conclusion

The content developed for the MATCH application is valid and will be trailed by family caregivers and people living with dementia in a future study.