Flow and meaningfulness as mechanisms of change in self-concept and wellbeing following a songwriting intervention for people in the early phase of neurorehabilitation

Anecdotal evidence suggests that songwriting assists people with spinal cord injury (SCI) or acquired brain injury (ABI) to explore threats to self-concept, yet studies that explore the mechanisms of change have not been reported. In a pilot study we explored the correlations between changes in self...

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Main Authors: Felicity Anne Baker, Nikki eRickard, Jeanette eTamplin, Chantal eRoddy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00299/full
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author Felicity Anne Baker
Nikki eRickard
Jeanette eTamplin
Chantal eRoddy
author_facet Felicity Anne Baker
Nikki eRickard
Jeanette eTamplin
Chantal eRoddy
author_sort Felicity Anne Baker
collection DOAJ
description Anecdotal evidence suggests that songwriting assists people with spinal cord injury (SCI) or acquired brain injury (ABI) to explore threats to self-concept, yet studies that explore the mechanisms of change have not been reported. In a pilot study we explored the correlations between changes in self-concept and wellbeing, with mechanisms of flow and meaningfulness of songwriting. Five people with ABI (all male) and 5 SCI (4 males, 1 female) (mean age 38.90 years, SD=13.21), with an average 3 months post injury, participated in a 12-session songwriting program that targeted examination of self-concept. Measures of self-concept, depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, affect, satisfaction with life, and flourishing were collected pre, mid, and post-intervention, and compared with repeated measures of flow and meaningfulness of songwriting. Medium effects were found for changes in self-concept (d = 0.557) and depression (d = 0.682) and approached a medium effect for negative affect (d = 0.491). Improvements in self-concept over time were associated with decreases in depression (rp=-.874, n=9, p<.01), anxiety (rp=-.866, n=9, p<.01) and negative affect (rp=-.694, n=10, p<.05), and an increase in flourishing (rp=+.866, n=9, p<.01) and positive affect (rp=+.731, n=10, p<.05). Strong experiences of flow were not positively correlated with positive changes to self-concept and wellbeing, whereas deriving high levels of meaning were associated with increased negative affect (rp=+.68 p<.05), increased anxiety (rp=+.74, p<0.05) and reduced emotional suppression (rp=-.58, p<.05). These findings show that the targeted songwriting intervention appears to be positively associated with enhanced wellbeing outcomes. However, the findings also suggest that people who find the songwriting process has strong meaning for them might be more likely to start accepting their emotions and as a result experience an increase in anxiety and depression.
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spelling doaj.art-49055384016b4453bc2527cac4abca082022-12-21T19:06:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612015-05-01910.3389/fnhum.2015.00299141683Flow and meaningfulness as mechanisms of change in self-concept and wellbeing following a songwriting intervention for people in the early phase of neurorehabilitationFelicity Anne Baker0Nikki eRickard1Jeanette eTamplin2Chantal eRoddy3The University of MelbourneMonash UniversityThe University of MelbourneMonash UniversityAnecdotal evidence suggests that songwriting assists people with spinal cord injury (SCI) or acquired brain injury (ABI) to explore threats to self-concept, yet studies that explore the mechanisms of change have not been reported. In a pilot study we explored the correlations between changes in self-concept and wellbeing, with mechanisms of flow and meaningfulness of songwriting. Five people with ABI (all male) and 5 SCI (4 males, 1 female) (mean age 38.90 years, SD=13.21), with an average 3 months post injury, participated in a 12-session songwriting program that targeted examination of self-concept. Measures of self-concept, depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, affect, satisfaction with life, and flourishing were collected pre, mid, and post-intervention, and compared with repeated measures of flow and meaningfulness of songwriting. Medium effects were found for changes in self-concept (d = 0.557) and depression (d = 0.682) and approached a medium effect for negative affect (d = 0.491). Improvements in self-concept over time were associated with decreases in depression (rp=-.874, n=9, p<.01), anxiety (rp=-.866, n=9, p<.01) and negative affect (rp=-.694, n=10, p<.05), and an increase in flourishing (rp=+.866, n=9, p<.01) and positive affect (rp=+.731, n=10, p<.05). Strong experiences of flow were not positively correlated with positive changes to self-concept and wellbeing, whereas deriving high levels of meaning were associated with increased negative affect (rp=+.68 p<.05), increased anxiety (rp=+.74, p<0.05) and reduced emotional suppression (rp=-.58, p<.05). These findings show that the targeted songwriting intervention appears to be positively associated with enhanced wellbeing outcomes. However, the findings also suggest that people who find the songwriting process has strong meaning for them might be more likely to start accepting their emotions and as a result experience an increase in anxiety and depression.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00299/fullSpinal Cord Injurieswellbeingdepression and anxiety disordersacquired brain injuryself-concept clarityFlow theory
spellingShingle Felicity Anne Baker
Nikki eRickard
Jeanette eTamplin
Chantal eRoddy
Flow and meaningfulness as mechanisms of change in self-concept and wellbeing following a songwriting intervention for people in the early phase of neurorehabilitation
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Spinal Cord Injuries
wellbeing
depression and anxiety disorders
acquired brain injury
self-concept clarity
Flow theory
title Flow and meaningfulness as mechanisms of change in self-concept and wellbeing following a songwriting intervention for people in the early phase of neurorehabilitation
title_full Flow and meaningfulness as mechanisms of change in self-concept and wellbeing following a songwriting intervention for people in the early phase of neurorehabilitation
title_fullStr Flow and meaningfulness as mechanisms of change in self-concept and wellbeing following a songwriting intervention for people in the early phase of neurorehabilitation
title_full_unstemmed Flow and meaningfulness as mechanisms of change in self-concept and wellbeing following a songwriting intervention for people in the early phase of neurorehabilitation
title_short Flow and meaningfulness as mechanisms of change in self-concept and wellbeing following a songwriting intervention for people in the early phase of neurorehabilitation
title_sort flow and meaningfulness as mechanisms of change in self concept and wellbeing following a songwriting intervention for people in the early phase of neurorehabilitation
topic Spinal Cord Injuries
wellbeing
depression and anxiety disorders
acquired brain injury
self-concept clarity
Flow theory
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00299/full
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