The effect of music therapy interventions on social anxiety in children

The aim of this research is to determine the effectiveness of music therapy interventions in reducing behavior associated with social anxiety in children. In this study; the effect of active music therapy interventions on children aged between 09 and 16 years (n:6) who were diagnosed with social anxiety after being examined by a child psychiatrist was investigated. The research utilizes a mixed-method approach with an explanatory sequential design. The quantitative dimension employs a quasi-experimental design, while the qualitative dimension adopts a phenomenological design. The study includes a total of 12 participants, with 6 participants in the experimental group (n=6) who sought treatment at Duzce University Child Psychiatry Department and were diagnosed with social anxiety by a child psychiatrist, and 6 participants in the control group (n=6). The experimental group received individual music therapy sessions once a week for 6 weeks. Data collection in the research consists of both quantitative and qualitative stages. For the quantitative data collection, the following instruments were used: Revised Social Anxiety Scale for Children (La Greca, 1993), Beck Anxiety Inventory (Beck et al., 1988), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger et al., 1966) administered by Öner and Le Compte (1998). For the qualitative data collection, the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale, detailed descriptions by music therapists, and subjective evaluation methods were used. The findings from the quantitative stage of the research revealed no significant differences in the pre-test scores of the four scales between the experimental and control groups (UÇİA=15,5; UBECK=14, USTAI TX-1 =11,5; USTAI TX-2 =15, p>0,05). However, a significant difference was observed in the scores of the individuals in the experimental group in the four scales analysed for the pretest and posttest scores of the experimental group (ZÇİA=-2,20, ZBECK-2,20, ZSTAI TX-1=-2,20, ZSTAI TX-2= -2,20, p<0,05). The comparison of pre-test and post-test scores within the control group did not yield significant differences for the four scales (ZÇİA=-1,572, ZBECK=-0,526, ZSTAI TX-1=-1,363, ZSTAI TX-2=-1,08, p>0,05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the post-test scores of the three scales between the experimental and control groups (UÇİA=13,5; UBECK=14, USTAI TX-2 =13, p>0,05). However, significant differences were observed in the scores of the STAI TX-1 scale between the experimental and control groups (USTAI TX-1 =3, p<0,05), where the experimental group's post-test scores (X ̅= 24) were significantly lower than those of the control group (X ̅= 54). The qualitative findings of the study were obtained at least one month after all music therapy sessions had been completed. According to the observations and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Scale results by the child psychiatrists during the initial and final consultations, it was reported that all children in the experimental group, who initially had high levels of social anxiety, showed clinical improvement in social anxiety severity after at least one month following the completion of the music therapy intervention. Moreover, based on evaluations by the music therapists and social validity results obtained from interviews with the mothers of the participants, it was observed that music therapy was effective in the experimental group. It is thought that it would be useful to perform similar studies with larger case groups.