BACKGROUND: Enhancing quality of life (QOL) of older adults is an international area of focus. Identifying factors and experiences that contribute to QOL of older adults helps promote optimal levels of functioning. This study examines the relationship between perceived benefits associated with choral singing and QOL among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: One hundred seventeen older adults who sing in community choirs in Jyväskylä, Finland, completed self-report measures of QOL (WHOQOL-Bref), depressive symptoms, and a questionnaire about the benefits of singing in choir. Correlational analyses and linear regression models were used to examine the association between the benefits of singing in choir and QOL. RESULTS: Both correlation and regression analyses found significant relationships between the benefits of choral singing and three QOL domains: psychological, social relationships, and environment. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age and depressive symptoms. As hypothesized, older choral singers who reported greater benefits of choir singing had higher QOL in multiple domains. The older choral singers in the study also reported few symptoms of depression and high overall QOL and satisfaction with health. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that singing in a community choir as an older adult may positively influence several aspects of QOL. These results suggest that community choral singing may be one potential avenue for promoting QOL in older adults.
BACKGROUND: Enhancing quality of life (QOL) of older adults is an international area of focus. Identifying factors and experiences that contribute to QOL of older adults helps promote optimal levels of functioning. This study examines the relationship between perceived benefits associated with choral singing and QOL among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: One hundred seventeen older adults who sing in community choirs in Jyväskylä, Finland, completed self-report measures of QOL (WHOQOL-Bref), depressive symptoms, and a questionnaire about the benefits of singing in choir. Correlational analyses and linear regression models were used to examine the association between the benefits of singing in choir and QOL. RESULTS: Both correlation and regression analyses found significant relationships between the benefits of choral singing and three QOL domains: psychological, social relationships, and environment. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age and depressive symptoms. As hypothesized, older choral singers who reported greater benefits of choir singing had higher QOL in multiple domains. The older choral singers in the study also reported few symptoms of depression and high overall QOL and satisfaction with health. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that singing in a community choir as an older adult may positively influence several aspects of QOL. These results suggest that community choral singing may be one potential avenue for promoting QOL in older adults.
Authors: Joe Verghese; Richard B Lipton; Mindy J Katz; Charles B Hall; Carol A Derby; Gail Kuslansky; Anne F Ambrose; Martin Sliwinski; Herman Buschke Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2003-06-19 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Theresa A Allison; Anna M Nápoles; Julene K Johnson; Anita L Stewart; Martha Rodriguez-Salazar; Jennifer Peringer; Sylvia Sherman; Jessica Ortez-Alfaro; Ofelia Villero; Elena Portacolone Journal: Geriatr Nurs Date: 2020-08-08 Impact factor: 2.361
Authors: Nina Kraus; Jessica Slater; Elaine C Thompson; Jane Hornickel; Dana L Strait; Trent Nicol; Travis White-Schwoch Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2014-11-05 Impact factor: 4.677
Authors: Julene K Johnson; Anna M Nápoles; Anita L Stewart; Wendy B Max; Jasmine Santoyo-Olsson; Rachel Freyre; Theresa A Allison; Steven E Gregorich Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-10-13 Impact factor: 3.295