Impacts of choir training on mental well-being of students who survived the earthquake

This study aims to determine the impacts of choir training carried out with students affected by the successive earthquakes in Türkiye on February 6, 2023, the epicenters of which were the Elbistan and Pazarcık districts of Kahramanmaraş, causing great destruction and loss of life, on their mental well-being. It is suggested in the literature that conducting studies to provide emotional support to children affected by the earthquake and providing activities aimed at boosting children's morale; such as playing games together, engaging in sports, singing songs, and participating in artistic activities, can help them overcome the difficulties they experience. Based on this, contributing to the mental well-being of students who survived the earthquake through choir training formed the basis of the study. The study group consists of 22 volunteer students who enrolled in the 2024-2025 academic year at Coşkunöz Secondary School, affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, operating in the Kırıkhan district center of Hatay. In the quantitative study based on a single-group pre-test-post-test experimental model, first a twelve-week work plan and a content regarding choir was prepared, the songs to be taught to the students were listed, and then extracurricular choir rehearsals were carried out one day a week for three months. The study data were collected using a personal information form and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. This scale was applied twice, before and after the choir practices. According to the findings obtained from the study, it was determined that choir activities had a statistically significant effect on the mental well-being scores of students who survived the earthquake, and it was concluded that the choir training positively affected mental well-being.