PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Fancourt, Daisy
AU  - Finn, Saoirse
AU  - Warran, Katey
AU  - Wiseman, Theresa
TI  - Group singing in bereavement: effects on mental health, self-efficacy, self-esteem and well-being
AID  - 10.1136/bmjspcare-2018-001642
DP  - 2022 Oct 01
TA  - BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
PG  - e607--e615
VI  - 12
IP  - e4
4099  - http://spcare.bmj.com/content/12/e4/e607.short
4100  - http://spcare.bmj.com/content/12/e4/e607.full
SO  - BMJ Support Palliat Care2022 Oct 01; 12
AB  - Objectives Bereavement is associated with negative affective, cognitive, behavioural and physiological responses. However, factors, such as coping, self-efficacy and self-esteem, can buffer negative effects of grief, and can be increased through mutual support interventions, such as shared leisure activities. This study used a non-randomised controlled design to explore the effects of group choir singing on mental health among people who have been bereaved due to cancer.Methods A total of 58 adults bereaved in the last 5 years who had not started psychological therapy in the last 12 weeks or medication for anxiety or depression in the last month were recruited and elected to join a choir (n=29) or participate in the non-intervention control group (n=29). Joining a choir involved engaging in 90 min weekly singing and social sessions for 12 weeks with a post-intervention assessment at week 24. We used linear mixed effects models adjusted for demographics, health-related variables, musical engagement and time since bereavement to model changes over time between the two groups in symptoms of anxiety, depression, well-being, self-efficacy and self-esteem.Results Participants who sang in a choir had more stable symptoms of depression and levels of well-being, as well as gradual improvements in their sense of self-efficacy and self-esteem over the 24 weeks. In contrast, those in the control group showed gradual increases in depressive symptoms, reductions in levels of well-being and self-esteem and no improvement in their self-efficacy. These results were independent of all covariates.Conclusions Weekly group singing could be a promising mutual support intervention for people experiencing grief.Trial registration number NCT02756780.Data are available on reasonable request.