Personal identity narratives of therapeutic songwriting participants following Spinal Cord Injury: A case series analysis

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2018 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2017.1364559 · Published: July 4, 2018

Spinal Cord Injury Alternative Medicine Mental Health

Simple Explanation

This study explores how therapeutic songwriting can help people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) adjust to changes in their identity after their injury. SCI can lead to physical limitations and mental health challenges, making it difficult for individuals to see themselves in a positive light. The study involved a six-week songwriting program where participants worked with a music therapist to create songs about their past, present, and future selves. The goal was to help them process their experiences and reintegrate their sense of self. The results showed that some participants had positive changes in their self-perception and well-being, while others had negative changes. Injury severity seemed to play a role, with those having less severe injuries showing more positive outcomes.

Study Duration

6 Weeks

Participants

Eight individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (7 males, 1 female)

Evidence Level

Case-series analysis

Key Findings

1
Three participants demonstrated positive trajectories in identity reintegration, while three showed negative trajectories, and two were ambiguous.
2
Injury severity differentiated those with positive trajectories from those with negative trajectories; greater injury severity was apparent for those showing negative trends.
3
Self-concept also improved more in those with positive trajectories, suggesting a link between identity perception and response to the songwriting intervention.

Research Summary

This study examined the identity narratives of individuals with SCI participating in a therapeutic songwriting intervention. The intervention involved creating songs about past, present, and future selves to promote identity rehabilitation. The results indicated varied responses, with some participants showing positive shifts in identity and well-being, while others showed negative shifts. Injury severity appeared to be a differentiating factor. The study concludes that identity-focused songwriting holds promise for promoting healthy identity reintegration, particularly for those with less severe SCI. Further research is needed to explore these benefits in larger samples.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Intervention

Identity-focused therapeutic songwriting can be used as a tool to promote adjustment and reintegration of self-concept for individuals with SCI, especially during subacute rehabilitation.

Personalized Treatment

Treatment approaches should consider the severity of injury as a potential predictor of response to identity-focused interventions, tailoring interventions accordingly.

Further Research

Future research should explore the efficacy of therapeutic songwriting in larger samples and investigate the role of factors like coping style, stress response, and significant life events in post-injury adjustment.

Study Limitations

1
The research design lacks a control condition, precluding causal inferences about the effects of the intervention.
2
The small sample size limits the generalizability of the findings.
3
Coping style and stress response were not directly evaluated, potentially missing key predictors of SCI adjustment.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury