The Impact of Performing Arts on Mental Health, Social Connection, and Creativity in University Students

National University of Singapore

Status: Completed

Conditions: Creativity; Quality of Life; Social Isolation; Mental Health

Treatments: Behavioral: Movin' and Groovin' for Wellness

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06542003

NUS-IRB-2023-3

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate whether the "Movin' & Groovin' for Wellness" (MGW) performing arts program is able to support mental, social, and emotional health in NUS students. It will also assess the program's impact on students' well-being. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does participation in the program decrease depressive symptoms, stress levels and anxiety?
2. Does the program foster creative expression among participants?
3. Does the program foster social connections among participants?

Researchers compare the effects of the facilitated music and dance sessions (MGW program) to a Control group that does not participate in these activities. Participants are randomly assigned into either the Experimental (MGW) group or Control group.

Those in the Experimental group are randomly allocated to one of two subgroups, where participants either experience drumming or dancing sessions first (for 5 weeks), followed by the other activity (e.g., the only difference between subgroups is the order in which they experience the facilitated sessions). Both the drumming and dancing sessions are led by trained professionals. The sessions are held weekly for 10 weeks in dedicated performance rooms. Participants also complete questionnaires, and have the opportunity to participate in a focus group discussion to provide feedback about the program.

Control group participants complete the same questionnaires at the same time points without participating in the activities. The program aims to evaluate the effectiveness of music and dance in promoting mental health, social well-being, and creativity among university students.

Enrollment: 76 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Be currently enrolled in NUS
• Be between the ages of 18-40 years old
• Be fluent (speak and write) in English
• Able to commit to attending the live sessions for the entire 10-week period
• Have normal or corrected-to-normal hearing and vision

Exclusion criteria

• Have been diagnosed with a neurological or hearing impairment, or a physical impairment that would prevent moving/dancing
• Are taking medicine to treat their mental health (as this would be a confound in the study)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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76 participants in 2 patient groups

MGW Drum and Dance Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the intervention group engage in a 10-week program that includes both drumming and dancing sessions. The group is further divided into two subgroups due to logistical reasons, with one subgroup attending five weeks of drumming sessions followed by five weeks of dancing sessions, and the other subgroup attending sessions in the opposite order. All participants in this arm participate in both drumming and dancing sessions.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Movin' and Groovin' for Wellness

No-treatment Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the control group do not participate in the drumming and dancing sessions. They represent "normal student life". They only complete the same questionnaires at the same time points as the intervention group to serve as a baseline comparison for evaluating the impact of the interventions.