Music Therapy Improving Mental Health in Social Services: The Roles of Engagement Competence and Support Mediation

Description

Music therapy has gained attention as a complementary psychosocial intervention for promoting mental health within social work practice. Although previous studies have demonstrated its therapeutic benefits, limited evidence explains how therapist competence, client engagement, and social support are associated with therapeutic outcomes. This study investigates the associations between music therapy and mental health outcomes in social work. A quantitative cross-sectional design was conducted among music therapists (n = 417) in China using purposive sampling. Findings showed that there were significant correlations between music therapy and mental health outcomes (β = 0.238, p < 0.001), client involvement with music therapy and mental health outcomes (β = 0.331, p < 0.001), and therapist competence and mental health outcomes (β = 0.222, p < 0.001). Social support also mediated the relationship between music therapy and mental health outcomes (β = 0.080, p < 0.001) and was associated with music therapy (β = 0.404, p < 0.001). Client engagement was also found to be moderated by therapist competence (β = 0.134, p = 0.001), which in turn was related to mental health outcomes. These findings suggest that the perceived effectiveness of music therapy is associated not only with music-based interventions but also with active client participation, professional therapist competence, and supportive therapeutic environments. The study provides evidence that may inform person-centered mental health practice and professional training within social work. Future research should employ longitudinal and intervention-based designs to examine changes in therapeutic outcomes over time and across different music therapy approaches.

Institutions

• Wuxi University

  Jiangsu, Wuxi

Categories

Licence