Should osteopaths recommend community singing as part of their holistic patient management – a qualitative study into the perceived health benefits to men of singing in a choir?
Item
- Title
- Should osteopaths recommend community singing as part of their holistic patient management – a qualitative study into the perceived health benefits to men of singing in a choir?
- Author(s)
- Cross, N
- Abstract
- This paper presents evidence on male community singers’ perceptions of the physical, mental and emotional benefits of community singing with particular reference to the lower numbers of men compared to women engaging in choir membership. This paper describes a qualitative research project, based on a grounded research analysis of interviews with eleven male community choir members and one choir leader, which explored the reasons why men choose to join choirs and the benefits they believe they have gained from community singing. It also explores the participants’ opinions as to why they were in the minority as male members, and what if anything could or should be done to rectify this? Most participants believed that community singing had had a positive effect on their emotional or mental health, whilst mostly understanding that mental health is governed by physiological processes. Five of the choir members interviewed disclosed present or past mental health issues during the interview process. All said that they felt that community singing had had a positive effect on their psychological health, two asserting that it had been of greater benefit than medication. Many interviewees also believed that singing had had a positive effect on their physical health – specifically effects on lung function, breathing and posture. Most participants, dismissed the idea that the benefits accrued merely from the social aspect of singing in a choir, but felt that the social aspect of choir membership was one of several factors contributing to their improved health and happiness. The vast majority of participants believed that health professionals should consider recommending community singing in addition to or in some cases as an alternative to more conventional treatments for mental illness, although most expressed doubt as to whether men would be open to this sort of recommendation without more publicity and information as to the proven health benefits.The researcher concluded that until the benefits of singing are more widely accepted and understood there could only be limited success in suggesting singing as part of a holistic care plan, but that osteopaths should still be aware of these benefits and give the recommendation serious consideration.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2018
- Date Submitted
- 25.1.2019 17:18:25
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16391
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Holistic singing
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Cross, N, “Should osteopaths recommend community singing as part of their holistic patient management – a qualitative study into the perceived health benefits to men of singing in a choir?”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 4, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/373