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University of the Pacific

The effects of group music therapy on mood states and cohesiveness in adult oncology patients

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the efficacy of a music therapy protocol on mood states and levels of group cohesiveness in adult oncology patients. Eleven oncology patients in two groups (ages 30 to 84 years) took part in the study over a ten-week period of time (ten participants completed the study). During that period, participants took part in eight music therapy sessions consisting of two types of interventions: 1) four "music making" sessions (where the mechanism for change included the process of making music) and 2) four "music responding" sessions (where the mechanism included the process of responding to music). The two types of music therapy sessions and their effectiveness on improving mood states and group cohesiveness were examined. The Profile of Mood States- Short Form (POMS-SF) was used to assess changes in participants' mood states. A content analysis, attendance records, and a questionnaire were used to assess levels of group cohesiveness. Results showed significant improvement in mood state scores (from pre session levels to post sessions levels) after involvement in all music therapy sessions. Similar significant findings were found within each of the "music making" and "music responding" conditions but no differences were found when comparisons were made between those conditions. No statistically significant effects were found with respect to group cohesiveness measures. Study implications and future research directions are discussed.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Music Therapy
Year dc:date.available
2000

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Waldon, Eric G.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • David A. Wolfe

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/534
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-1533

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of the Pacific
Base URL
scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Waldon, Eric G.. The effects of group music therapy on mood states and cohesiveness in adult oncology patients. Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted thesis, 2000. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/534