Comparing the benefits of parent–infant flute and singing groups for communication and parenting: A feasibility study

Article


Hadar, T., Politimou, N. and Franco, F. 2024. Comparing the benefits of parent–infant flute and singing groups for communication and parenting: A feasibility study. Psychology of Music. 52 (2), pp. 141-157. https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356231166759
TypeArticle
TitleComparing the benefits of parent–infant flute and singing groups for communication and parenting: A feasibility study
AuthorsHadar, T., Politimou, N. and Franco, F.
Abstract

There is growing evidence highlighting benefits of musical exposure and participation on several aspects of development and parenting. Aiming to establish a rigorous protocol allowing researchers to study different types of musical interactions and their benefits on the development of early communication, the present study explored parents’ experiences of musically engaging with their infants in different types of music groups. Twenty-five infants and their parents were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) singing, (2) flute playing or (3) control group. Music sessions were held weekly for 14 weeks and were followed by the home use of the recorded routines specific of each group, for further three months. Semi structured interviews were conducted with the experimental groups’ participants, and pre/post quantitative developmental measures were collected from all groups, to assess participants’ compliance. Qualitative analyses of the interviews revealed both shared themes, (communication enhancement, enjoyment and regulation); and unique themes (creativity and freedom in the flute group; familiarity and responsiveness in the singing group). The feasibility study was successful in establishing a workable protocol to use in RCT longitudinal interventions aiming to examine how specific aspects of the musical experience might differentially support developmental outcomes, in parent-infant groups.

Keywordsparent-infant groups; singing; flute; communication; responsiveness; improvisation
Sustainable Development Goals3 Good health and well-being
Middlesex University ThemeHealth & Wellbeing
PublisherSAGE Publications
JournalPsychology of Music
ISSN0305-7356
Electronic1741-3087
Publication dates
Online07 Jul 2023
PrintMar 2024
Publication process dates
Deposited20 Mar 2023
Accepted04 Feb 2023
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open
Copyright Statement

Accepted for publication in Psychology of Music journal, published by SAGE Publications.
Hadar, T., Politimou, N. and Franco, F. (2024) Comparing the benefits of parent-infant flute and singing groups for communication and parenting: A feasibility study. Psychology of Music, 52(2), 141-157. Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). DOI: 10.1177/03057356231166759
Sage: Posting to an Institutional Repository (Green Open Access): https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/posting-to-an-institutional-reposit...

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356231166759
LanguageEnglish
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