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.
