The effect of music on power, pain, depression, and disability: A clinical trial

• Main Author: Siedlecki, Sandra L
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2005
• Subjects: Clinical psychology; Clinical trials; Disability; Mental depression; Music; Nursing; Pain management; Psychotherapy
• ISBN: 0496041002; 9780496041008

The experience of chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP) is one of the most frequently encountered problems affecting both men and women during their working years, and is frequently associated with physical, emotional, and behavioral manifestations that affect all aspects of an individual's life. The pathophysiology of CNMP syndromes is poorly understood, and the effectiveness of analgesics may be limited by their side effects. The addition of complementary modalities, such as music, may enhance the effects of analgesics, decrease emotional and behavioral manifestations, such as pain, depression, and disability, promote beliefs of personal power, and thus result in improved quality of life for individuals who suffer from CNMP. Research indicates that music is effective for decreasing acute and chronic pain. However, the effect of music on power, pain, depression, and disability associated with CNMP has not been previously studied nor have the effects of different types of music been compared. This randomized controlled trial was designed to test the effect of listening to music on levels of power, pain, depression, and disability. A second aim was to compare the effects of researcher-provided relaxing music choices with subject-preferred music, selected daily based on self-assessment. Using Rogers' science of unitary human beings and Barrett's theory of power, this was a test of a research model, which posited that music would have a direct effect on power, pain, depression, and disability through environmental field patterning and an indirect effect through enhanced feelings of power. Univariate and multivariate analysis found that the two music groups had significantly higher levels of power and lower levels of pain, depression, and disability than the no music control group; and there were no significant differences on any of the dependent variables between groups who used researcher-provided relaxing music and those who used self-selected preferred music based on daily self-assessment. Thus, the direct effect of music posited in the research model was supported. In addition, these findings also supported the indirect effect; music increased power, and power predicted posttest levels of pain, depression, and disability.