Sing4Health: Randomised controlled trial of the effects of a singing group program on the subjective and social well-being of older adults.

Abstract

Group singing may be an optimal intervention strat egy to promote active ageing and well-being; how ever, evidence with experimental validity is scarce. This study aims to fill this gap by analysing the effects of a 34-session singing group programme (SGP) on participants' subjective and social well-being and the mediating roles of social identification with the singing group and of self-esteem. An RCT with intervention (n = 89) and active waiting-list control (n = 60) conditions was conducted, and a mixed method quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis were performed. Participants were mostly elderly day-care centre users (M = 76.66 years old; SD = 8.79) with low average levels of education and income. Structured measures of life satisfaction, positive and negative affect, self-esteem, loneliness, social identification and social well-being were col lected, as well as interviews on the perceived benefits of participating in the SGP. Results showed significant effects of the SGP on the positive affect, social well being and marginally on the self-esteem of the partic ipants. The observed effects were sustained at the follow-up. Qualitative analysis corroborated the quan titative results. Mediation analysis showed indirect effects of social identification with the singing group on loneliness and social identification with the social care institution group; and of self-esteem on positive and negative affect.