Rhythms of Relief; How Music Shapes Individual Mental and

Social Health

Argenio, Mica
Balang, Apolonio Jr
Duenog, Mikee

A THESIS
Submitted in Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Arts Major in Sociology
College of Arts and Communication
University of Eastern Philippines
University Town, Northern Samar
 2024-2025
CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Music has long been recognized as a powerful tool for

enhancing mental, emotional, physical and social well-being.

It is a great source of entertainment some people spend

hours listening to it. Some students, spend their leisure

time listening to music to temporarily escape from stress of

school works and calm their mind.

In today’s interconnected world, music has become

universal language that transcends borders, cultures, and

beliefs, and has the remarkable power to connect people on a

fundamental level. With platforms like Spotify, Apple Music,

and YouTube, music can now be accessed and enjoyed by

listeners worldwide with just a few clicks.

As music expands throughout the world, a lot of people

benefited from it. It is widely used on important gatherings

and occasions, it is also used in religious events. While

some people use it for the sake of entertainment.

 Stress are just one of the key factors that affects

mental and social health of a person, and students are one

of those who experience stress, except for personal problems

such as family issues and financial issues, they can also

experience stress from school. The stress experience by

students may stems from academic demands, peer pressure, and

pressure to please their parents and teacher.

Students seek mechanism and strategies to manage the

heavy feelings they experience at the moment. This coping

mechanism includes praying, mediating, exercising, using

social media entertainment media, conversing with friends

and family to seek moral support, or just by listening to

music. By listening to music they temporarily escape from

their problems and alleviate the negative emotions that they

experienced at that moment.

Music can provide comfort and solace during times of

distress, allowing a person to express their feelings

without having to put them into words. Music can also be

used as a tool for self-reflection that can helps

individuals to gain insight into their own experiences and

find meaning in difficult situations.1

1
Thoma, M.V., La Marca, R., Bronniman, R., Finkel, L., & Nater, U. M. (2013). The impact of a single session
of music listening on stress recovery: A randomized controlled study. Psychology of Music , 41(5), 621-637.
 Listening to music can relax the mind, energize the

body, and help people manage pain better, by listening to

meaningful song, it can instantly remind us of the people,

feelings, or place that we associate with that song. Music

can improve a person’s memory and help you remember certain

things.2

The World Health Organization (WHO) states the

worldwide benefits of music on mental health and overall

health of individuals. On a 2019 WHO report, which presents

evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and

wellbeing. The report identified that activities like music

therapy contributes in promoting good health and health

equity.3

Listening to music can have a positive impact on mood

regulation and stress reduction, leading to improved mental

well-being among individuals.4 This can be particularly

beneficial for students who may experience high level of

stress due to academic demands and societal issues they

2
E. Glenn Schelllenbreg, “Music and Cognitive Abilitie,” Current Direction in Psychological Science 14, no. 6
(2005): 317-320.
3
World Health Organization. (2023, September 25). Ground-breaking research series on health benefits of
the arts. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/25-09-2023-ground-breaking-research-
series-on-health-benefits-of-the-arts
4
Linnemann, A., Zeebari, S., & Melin, L. (2015). Music listening for mood regulation: The impact of mental
health salience and psychopatholgy. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 69,414-421.
study. By listening to music, students can potentially

alleviate some of the stress they experience, leading to

better mental health and overall well-being.

Music also contributes to social functions, it builds

social connections, foster a sense of belonging, and

facilitate group interaction.5 For students, engaging in

shared musical experiences such as attending concerts or

music-related events can enhance their social well-being by

promoting social connections and a sense of community.

In the Philippines, there is a growing recognition on

the benefits of music in promoting mental health or overall

health at all. There are various studies and research that

introduced the therapeutic effect of music. Researcher from

Santo Thomas during the 32nd anniversary of Philippine

Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD)

found that non-pharmacological therapies such as

reminiscence and music therapy can be used as a practice in

taking care of people with dementia.

Students at the University of Eastern Philippines

frequently rely on music to cope with academic pressures,

the researcher observed that during their vacant hours they

5
Lamont, A. (2011). The social worlds of music: A sociological approach. In R.A.R.MacDonald,
D.J.Hargreaves,& D. Miell (Eds.), Musical identities (pp.31-55). Oxford University Press
spend time listening to music to temporarily escape and

alleviate the negative emotions brought by academic demands.

As the profound use of music continue to grow and

recognized, students at University of Eastern Philippines

are also one of those individuals that uses music for

personal healing.

The result of this research could contribute to the

growing body of knowledge and studies on how music

positively affects individual mental and social health.

Moreover, this study could also contribute to the idea of

music therapy as a global and national intervention for

mental health.

Thus, this study aims to identify how music shapes

individual mental and social health, the researcher wants to

find out what is behind this social phenomenon. Data will be

collected through in-depth interview with selected BA

Sociology students who are involved in music organizations,

using a purposive sampling technique. BA Sociology students

are the chosen informants in this study, as they might be

able to provide more honest and insightful responses as they

are already engaged in understanding societal patterns and

they already have a background insight on how cultural

factors shapes individual behavior and societal well-being,

like how music shapes individual mental and social health.

Their sociology background may offer deeper insights into

social patterns, making them ideal informants for exploring

the influence of music on mental and social health.

Statement of the Problem

The focus of the study is to identify how music shapes

individual mental and social health.Specifically, this study

aims to answer the following:

1. What is the socio-demographic profile of the respondents

in terms of;
1.1. gender
1.2. age
1.3. hours listening of music
1.4. music genre
2. What is the influence of music in terms of;
2.1. mental health
2.2. social health

Objective of the Study

The primary objective of this study is to identify, how

music shapes individual mental and social health.

Specifically, this study aims to;

1. To identify the demographic profile of the respondents in

terms of;
 1.1. gender

1.2. age

1.3. hours listening of music

1.4. music genre

2. To identify, the influence of music in terms of;

2.1. mental health

2.2. social health

Significant of the Study

This research is made with the aims to provide valuable

information and knowledge regarding to choose topic by the

researcher. Through this study researcher can identify how

music shape and influence individual mental and social

health. The following is the beneficiary of this study.

BA Sociology students. This study will make students

aware of how they can incorporate music for their mental and

social health, by identifying which type of music or

listening habits are suitable for them.

Music enthusiast. This study will be beneficial for

music enthusiast, this will give them insight on the

therapeutic effects of music on mental health, particularly

on which music genre or listening habits they can

incorporate for their mental health.

Mental Health therapist. From this study, mental health

therapist could get an evidence-based insights that they can

use for mental health interventions for treating patients

with anxiety, depression or any mental health challenges.

Future Researcher. The concept offered in the study may

be used as reference material for future researcher as well

as for examining the reliability of related research

findings. This study will also act as their across-reference

providing them with background information or an overview of

the research on how music influence individual well-being.

Professionals in the music industry. The findings of

this study will help professionals in the music industry

such as artist, producers and or composers to make music

with therapeutic effects on listeners or intentionally

design their music as a tool for mental health.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

The study will occur from August to December 2024 at

University of Eastern Philippines. Research will take place

on the UEP campus in common areas like classrooms and study

halls. This study explores the impact of music on the mental

and social health of BA Sociology students at the University

of Eastern Philippines, focusing on those in music

organizations.

The researcher will focus on examining music’s role in

emotional regulation and stress relief, and on evaluating

music’s effect on social interactions and community

feelings. The researcher will conduct an in-depth interviews

to gather music-related personal stories, personal

narratives may lead to subjective conclusions based on

backgrounds.

Selected BA Sociology students from UEP involved in

music groups like Las Artes or UPAO will be purposively

sampled to capture relevant experiences. Purposive sampling

may miss perspectives from less involved students and a

small sample may not represent all UEP students or other

disciplines. Findings of this study may not also apply to

institutions with varying music engagement. Due to

participant availability the study’s duration may limit

depth of data collection.

Theoretical Framework
 There 3 main theoretical constructs guided this

research.

The first theory is Symbolic Interactionism theory

which it emphasized the importance of symbolic in shaping

social interaction and identity formation, this can serve as

a powerful symbolic for individual, influencing their

emotions, beliefs and behaviors.6 This concept can be used

in this study, music acts as a symbol that influences social

interactions and shapes identity.

The second theory is Social Identity theory. It is a

psychological theory proposed by Henri Tajfel and John

Turner in the 1970s, argues that individual forms their

social identity from social groups they are in. They claim

that individuals tend to define themselves in relation to

the social groups wherein they categorized themselves into.7

This theory applies to how music shapes individual

mental and social health. Music preferences play a role in

forming social groups, which affects social well-being.

Their musical taste or preference, as their common interest,

6
Mead G.H. (1934). Mind, self, and society: From the Standpoint of a social Behaviorist. University of
chicago press: https://www.structural-learning.com/post/symbolic-interactiontheory.
7
Saul McLeod. “Social Identity Theory in Pschology (Tajfel &Turner, 1979). “Simply Psychology , October 5,
2023. https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
naturally brings them together which foster social relations

and a sense of belonging in community. The social group that

they build through music bring a sense of satisfaction and

contentment as a form of building new friendship or any

social relationship. It can also contribute on building

their social identity, through social interaction they may

possibly adapt a new values, norms, or behaviors that will

contribute to their social identity. This valuable and

meaningful social group that they build will contribute into

more improved social health.

The third theory is Structural-Functional theory by

Emile Durkheim, it explains how societies change and survive

over time. He believed that individuals contribute to shape

society, their shared values, language, and symbols are what

make up society. He states that society can be understood

through social facts. Social Facts are the values, cultural

norms, religions, beliefs, customs, fashions, and social

structures that govern social life. It is the reason why

people seem to choose the same basic things within society.8

This concept can applied to this study, music can be

consider as a social facts categorized as a cultural norms,

8
Britanica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia. “Structural Functionalism.” Encyclopedia Britannica, May 28,2024.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/structural-fuctionalism.
values and custom. Music has a distinctive function on every

individuals that indirectly contributes to the society. It

has also a therapeutic effect that enhance mental health, it

can help them perform better in their everyday life, which

can indirectly contributes to societal stability. Music

promotes stability by enhancing emotional well-being.

Conceptual Framework

The researcher focused on the informant’s personal

experiences on how music shapes their mental and social

health. Variables like socio-demographic profile of the

informants in terms of gender, age, hours of listening to

music, and music genre will guide the researcher on

determining how music shapes their mental and social health.

Individuals with different age group has different music

preferences and the effects of music on their mental health

may vary based on the types of music that they listen to.

Gender may also contribute on how individuals choose the

types of music they listen or what specific music

organization they join. People also have their own

preference on how long they want to listen to music, which

may also contribute on how music can influence their mental

health.
This show in the paradigm of the study.
Definition of Term

The following terms used in the study are defined

conceptually and operationally to ensure clarity and better

understanding

Music. An art of sound in time that expresses ideas and

emotions in significant forms through the element of rhythm,

melody, harmony, and color.9 Operationally, defined as the

type of music that students listen to during their study

break.

Well-being. A good or satisfactory condition of

existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and

prosperity; welfare: to influence the well-being of the

nation and its people.10 Operationally, define as the

balance of mental and social health achieved through

listening or engagement to music.

Individual. A single person or thing, especially when

compared to the group or set to which they belong. 11

9
Dictionary. Com., Music.,from, https//www.dictionary.com/browse/sage
10
Ibid
11
Cambridge Dictionary.,Individual,from,
https//dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/individual
Operationally, refer to a person who defined as an informant

of this study.

Genre. A style, especially in the arts, that involves a

particular set of characteristics.12 Operationally, define

as the different type of music the students like to listen,

it is also a specific types of music on which students

mostly associate their self or emotions.

12
Ibid
 Chapter 2
Review of Related Literature

There is an exciting amount of research on music

therapy happening in Canada right now, it is also worthwhile

to consider what is happening in other parts of the world in

this growing field.13 Though development of music therapy is

quite widespread, there are a few countries that are

currently music therapy ‘hotspots’.14

The United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and

Canada are some of the more commonly known music therapy

centers of the world, however there are a few more countries

that are up-and-coming in the world of music therapy.15

Brazil, Japan and Argentina all have quite high numbers of

registered music therapists compared to other countries and

13
Dass, D., & Vishwanath, P. S. (2019). Music therapy in dementia: A
narrative review of the future musicales. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 61(Suppl
4), S611–S619. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_289_18
14
Grocke, D. E., & Wigram, T. (2007). Receptive methods in music therapy:
Techniques and clinical applications for music therapy clinicians, educators,
and students. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
15
Odell-Miller, H., Magee, W. L., & McFerran, K. S. (Eds.). (2013). Music
therapy in palliative care: New voices. Jessica Kingsley Publishers
are publishing a lot of fascinating research on music

therapy.16

This research studies the impact of music therapy in

new populations and settings such as premature babies,

children with neurodevelopmental disorders, adults in

critical care, and many more. A study done in Brazil

explored the effects of music therapy on the relationship

between a mother and her premature baby in intensive care

and its effect on their wellbeing.17

Researchers demonstrated that music therapy had a

relaxing effect on both the mother and child and helped the

mother to feel more confident in her ability to care for her

child. Music helped to truly calm down the baby which is

very important for the delicate setting of an intensive care

unit. This is a relatively unexplored area of music therapy

and is an interesting avenue for future research. Japan is

home to about 3000 registered music therapists and is also

currently engaging in exciting research. Japan hosted the

2017 World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) Conference,

16
Smith, J.2013. "Music Therapy in Brazil : An Overview of Registered
Music Therapists and Research Trends." Journal of Music Therapy, Volume(issue),
page numbers.
17
World Federation of Music Therapy (2013). Music Therapy in Brazil.
Retrieved from http://www.wftmt.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Fact-
Page_Brazil-2013. pdf
where music therapists from around the world gathered to

discuss and share their knowledge of music therapy

practices.18

It is also important to know the areas of the world

that are making significant strides in the music therapy

field, even if music therapy is still relatively new to that

country. India is an example of one of these countries that

is in the process of developing its music therapy

industry.19 An interesting study indicated that the rich

musical heritage of India has a lot to offer for modern

psychiatry.

The researchers describe how music has the ability to

‘cleanse an individual from within’ and that it may bring

new meaning to life. As the industry grows in India,

research will be able to provide interesting information

about how culture plays a role in music’s healing ability.20

18
World Federation of Music Therapy. (2019). Proceedings of the 16th
World Federation of Music Therapy Congress. Retrieved from
http://www.wfmt.info/proceedings2019/
19
Sharma, S. K., Kacker, R., &., Dhar, S. (2015). Music therapy: A
potential adjunct therapy in physical rehabilitation in India. Indian Journal of
Palliative Care, 21(1), 107-110. https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-1075.150183
20
Gupta, A., & Patel, M. (2021). The Healing Power of Music: A Cultural
Perspective. Journal of Indian Music Therapy, 5(2). 45-58.
 Research on music therapy done in countries that are

quite advanced in the field (like the United Kingdom,

Australia, the United States and Canada) is certainly

valuable and is home to many of the most important studies

and reviews upon which we base music therapist best

practices.21 These studies also have the advantage of having

comparable population characteristics to population in

Canada so the research is quite applicable. However, there

is also great value in staying up to date with music therapy

research in countries all over the world. Brazil, Japan and

Argentina are examples of some lesser known music therapy

research hubs and have much to offer to the rest of the

world.22 Countries like India that are in the process of

developing music therapy programs are also of great

importance. As the diversity of countries using music

therapy increases, music therapy research will continue to

expand in new directions.23

21
Smith, R., Davies, E., & Johnson, L. (2020). Advance in Music Therapy
Research: A Comparative Study of the United Kingdom, Australia, the United
States and Canada. International Journal of Music Therapy, 15(3), 112-129.
22
Smeijers, H., & Vingerhoets, A. (2017). Value of International
Collaboration in Music Therapy Research: Insights from Brazil, and Argentina.
Music Therapy Perspective, 35(1), 98-105.
23
Peter, E. M. A., & Mahapatra, A. (2020). The development of music
therapy in Indian: A narrative review and survey. Indian Journal of Palliative
Care, 26(4), 572-578.
 Learning about the different music therapy centres

around the world is important because it allows us to keep

up to date on the latest research in the field. By

collaborating with music therapy centres across the world,

we can share knowledge and continue to advance the field of

music and healthcare. We also can develop standards of

practice and training that add consistency to the profession

of music therapy and help to better understand the

mechanisms by which music plays a role in health.

Maintaining a global perspective when learning about the

latest research in music therapy is therefore a great

strategy for improving practices at home in Canada.24

Music therapy is a growing field in the Philippines,

with more individuals and institutions recognizing the

benefits of using music as a therapeutic tool.25 The

practice of music therapy involves using music to address

physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of

individuals. One of the main reasons for the growth of music

24
Miller, J. C., & Rickson, D.J. (2019). Global perspectives in music
therapy: Leading change and advancing the profession. Barcelona Publishers.
25
Hsiao, J., & Vicedo, M. (2019). Music Therapy in the Philippines:
Current Perspectives and Future Directions. Philippine Journal of Music Therapy,
1(1), 45-56.
therapy in the Philippines is the increasing awareness of

mental health issues and the need for alternative and

holistic approaches to treatment.26

Music therapy has been found to be effective in helping

individuals cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and other

mental health conditions.27

The Philippines has a rich musical tradition and

culture, which makes it a fertile ground for the development

of music therapy.28 Many Filipinos have a deep connection to

music and using it as a therapeutic tool is a natural fit.

In the Philippines there are several organization that

offer music therapy services, training, and advocacy. The

Philippine Association of Music Therapy (PAMT) was

established in 2017 to promote the use of music therapy in

the country and provide support to music therapists.29

There is a growing number of music therapists in the

Philippines who are receiving formal training and education

in the field. Some universities and colleges in the country

26
Ibid
27
Koelsch, S. (2014). Brain correlates of music-evoked emotions. Nature
Reviews Neuroscience, 15(3), 170-180.
28
Flores, P. (2027). The Role of Music in the Filipino Culture.
University of the Philippines Press.
29
PAMT.,(2017)., from, https://www.pamt.org.ph/
now offer courses and programs in music therapy, helping to

professionalize the practice and increase its availability30

The growth of music therapy in the Philippines is a

positive development for promoting mental health and well-

being in the country. As awareness and acceptance of music

therapy continue to increase, it is expected that more

individuals will be able to benefit from this effective and

non-invasive form of therapy31

The University of Eastern Philippines has different

organization, one of this is the University Performing Art

Organization (UPAO). This organization provide a platform

for students to express themselves creatively. Through

dance, music, theatre, or other forms, students can explore

and convey emotions, ideas, and narratives, and help them to

build their self-confidence. This is also their way how they

socialize, and communicate other people around them. And to

30
Kim, J., Domen, M. J., & Roque-Lynch, T. (2020). Music therapy
education in the Philippines: Pat, present and future. Voices: A World Forum
for Music Therapy, 20(3). doi:10.15845/voices.v20i3.3199
31
Bucoy, C., & Bautista, C. (2019). The Role of Music in Building
Inclusive Communities in the Philippines: An Analysis of Local Community and Policy Initiative.
Music and Art in Action, 6(1), 126-142. doi: 10.53687/musiac. V6i1. 158.
develop their self, their talent and other skill that they

have.

Students of UEP also facing different problem, like

academic problem, financial problem, family problem, and

lack of support, this problem has effect on their mental

health due to the stress, depression, lose confidence and

other health issue. And because of this they feel ashamed

when they socialize with other people, they lose their

confidence to shared their ability in the field of music,

dance and other talent that they have. However this

different organization especially the University Performing

Art Organization (UPAO) give them opportunity to express

their self, and their ability of music and other forms.

Through socialization, communication, sharing different

experience help them to reduce their stress

 Chapter 3
Methodology

Locale of the Study

This study was conducted in University of Eastern

Philippines. The University of Eastern Philippines has 3

campuses, the UEP Main, Loang and Catubig

The research study will be conducted in UEP Main, which

consist of the following colleges and department: UEP

primary and secondary Laboratory school, College of

Agriculture, College of Art and Communication, College of

Business Administration, College of Education, College of

Engineering, College of Law, College of Nursing, College of

Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Graduate

Studies.

This study focused only on BA Sociology students in

University of Eastern Philippines. This will be conducted

within the University of Eastern Philippines, specifically

within the campus or designated areas where BA Sociology

student typically gather or attend classes to directly

interact them.

Research Design

This study used the descriptive qualitative research

design to describe how music influence individual mental and

social health. A descriptive research design can used to

investigate one or more variables, it can also describe the

characteristics of the population and phenomenon being

studied. Thematic analysis was used in this study to come up

with themes and key concepts based on the findings.

Population and Sampling

The population for this study will be consist of BA

Sociology students enrolled in University of Eastern

Philippines. The total population of BA Sociology students

is 483. However, the researcher will choose only those

students who joined musical organization like Las artes ,

UPAO and other organization.

The sample size of this study are those students in BA

Sociology who are in musical organization . This study use

Purposive sampling technique to gather in depth insights

from a small, focused sample.

Informants

The informants of this study is the selected BA

Sociology students who join different musical organization

in University of Eastern Philippines. Students participating

in in music-related groups may have a more meaningful

engagement with music, resulting in richer data on how music

affects their well-being.

 BA Sociology students are the informants of this study,

as they might be able to provide more honest and insightful

responses as they already have a background insight on how

cultural factors shapes individual behavior and societal

well-being, like how music shapes individual mental and

social health. Their sociology backgrounds may offer deeper

insights into social patterns, making them ideal informants

for exploring the impact of music on mental and social

health.

Variables of the Study

The variables of this study were the profile of the

informants, in terms of gender, age, hours of listening,

music genre and the influence of music on mental and social

health.

Research Instruments

In this study, an interview schedule guide questions

was used in gathering the data to obtain the needed

information from the informants. The guide interview

questions engaged in an in-depth way of communication where

follow-up questions were asked in connection to the

informant’s answer. The instruments was translated into

Samarnon language, because not all informants can speak

straight english, so the researcher decided to just

translate it into samarnon language and to make sure that

the informants can understand those questions. The content

of the instruments was divided into 2 parts. First part is

the socio-demographic profile of the informants in terms of

gender, age, hours of listening in music, music genre.

Second are the influence of music in mental and social

health.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researcher gathering the data through the following

step: First, the researcher secured a letter signed by the

thesis professor, thesis adviser and college dean. Second

after securing the data the researcher asked personally the

chosen informants for permission to have a face to face

interview. Third after settling the schedule for interview

in which the informants set in a time that was convenient to

them, the researcher gladly accepted and followed the said

time. After this the researcher wait and prepared the quide

question on time that the informants are already free. In

addition to protect their privacy, the researcher secured

their personally which is the demographic profile of the

informants.

Plan Analysis

The researcher analyzed the data based on the

following:

First, the researcher had saved the audio recording and

field notes during the interview. Then the researcher used

the audio recording to transcribe all the data based on the

interview guide questionnaire.

Second, when the data were already transcribed, the

researcher compared the data based on their similarities and

differences. The researcher used narrative analysis to

analyze the data and summarized the findings and interpreted

the data to find out the result based on the objective of

this study.

The Plan of Analysis needs to give more details about how

narrative analysis will be carried out. For example, how
will the stories be organized? Will the focus be on the
overall structure of the narratives (like beginning, middle,
and end) or on significant turning points in the
participants' lives?

I suggest provide more information on how the stories will

be analyzed beyond simple transcription and comparison.
Consider discussing the examination of specific features in
the narratives, such as changes in emotions, social
relationships, and the development of identity through
music.

Ethical Consideration

In conducting this study, the researcher ensures that

the informants are informed about what is the study all

about, its purpose and also the procedures. The researcher

also ensures that informants give their voluntary consent on

participating in this study and have the right to withdraw

at any time. Personal information of the informants like the

socio-demographic profile will remain anonymous and

protected. All the data that will be collected are solely

used for the study. Caution and mindfulness will be practice

by the researcher when it comes to sensitive issue from the

informants such as related to psychological or emotional.