Facilitating and enhancing the wellbeing benefits of community group-singing

What is it about?

Singing is one of the most beneficial Art forms for wellbeing, especially in a group context. As well as physical health benefits such as boosted immune system and respiratory function, group singing facilitates psychological good health in terms of positive emotions , stress reduction and improved personal and social identity. There are also social benefits related to improved networks and connectedness with others. Singing in the community can be an affordable, accessible and highly effective solution and preventative measure to many health and social issues such as stress and social isolation. This study sought to investigate what the most identified benefits of group singing were for a community choir and to produce a framework based on the study results and the wider psychological theory in the literature to inform community group-singing interventions on how best to harness and flourish these wellbeing benefits.

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Photo by Vonecia Carswell on Unsplash

Photo by Vonecia Carswell on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Despite the increase in choirs and singing groups of all kinds in recent years, no preferred theoretical framework exists for community singing-based interventions. As more evidence-based research comes through supporting the success of social prescribing (referrals to social and community groups in place of or in addition to prescriptive medication) it is important to offer evidence-based support to those facilitating these services. Referrals to social groups are saving the NHS money, reducing waiting lists for treatment and reducing the burden on healthcare services as preventative action is engaged in.

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