Recreational music’s impact on adult wellness is the focus of a new research workgroup funded by the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) at Penn State.
The group, led by Bryan Nichols, head of graduate studies in Music Education in the College of Arts & Architecture, and Jennifer Agans, associate professor of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management in the College of Health and Human Development, aims to bring together researchers to study music participation and wellness outcomes.
“Studies show singing in formal group settings has positive social, physical, and wellness outcomes, but adults and older adults typically discontinue musical participation after schooling,” Nichols said. “Meanwhile, up to 40% of older adults report loneliness, and approximately 24% are socially isolated. To address this issue, we want to develop and evaluate interventions using music as a way to achieve adult wellness.”
The group will form a team of researchers from various disciplines and identify community groups for a kick-off meeting on April 10th. “We aim to identify ways to promote recreational singing and other forms of music participation among adults, pairing the latest arts and leisure research with community music to support well-being,” Agans said.
The group is also planning a symposium next year of music and leisure researchers and community arts organizers for talks and breakout sessions to discuss interventions and agendas for future research. Their results will include a white paper on music and wellness and recommendations for practitioners and will form the basis for a larger project.
The work is being supported by SSRI Working Group funding designed to assist Penn State social science faculty to form interdisciplinary research groups focusing on promising new research topics. SSRI funding opportunities also help support research collaborations across disciplinary boundaries, colleges, and research centers.