The Impact of Music Therapy on Anxiety Levels in Hospitalized Patients

Thesis Abstract

Hospitalized patients frequently experience elevated anxiety levels, which can adversely affect recovery outcomes, increase stress-related complications, and diminish overall well-being. Despite the widespread recognition of the psychological burden faced by inpatients, there remains limited empirical evidence on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions, such as music therapy, in alleviating anxiety symptoms within clinical hospital settings. This study aims to empirically evaluate the impact of music therapy on anxiety levels among hospitalized patients, with specific objectives to assess changes in anxiety scores pre- and post-intervention, compare the effectiveness of different music modalities, and explore patient perceptions of music therapy as a coping mechanism. Employing a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest control group design, the research was conducted over a six-month period in a tertiary hospital's medical and surgical wards. The target population comprised adult inpatients aged 18–65 years, experiencing moderate to high anxiety as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A total sample of 120 patients was recruited using stratified random sampling, with 60 allocated to the music therapy intervention group and 60 to the control group receiving standard care. The intervention involved 30-minute guided music sessions using both live and recorded music, administered thrice weekly for two weeks, facilitated by certified music therapists. Data collection instruments included the STAI for quantitative assessment of anxiety levels, a patient perception questionnaire for qualitative insights, and a demographic data sheet. Data analysis entailed descriptive statistics to profile the sample, followed by inferential analyses including paired sample t-tests to compare pre- and post-intervention anxiety scores within groups, independent t-tests for between-group comparisons, and repeated measures ANOVA to evaluate the interaction effects over time. Thematic analysis was employed to interpret qualitative responses on patient perceptions, guided by Braun and Clarke’s framework. Validity and reliability of instruments were established through expert review and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.87 for the STAI. It is anticipated that findings will demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in anxiety scores among patients exposed to music therapy compared to controls, consistent across both live and recorded music modalities. The qualitative data are expected to reveal themes related to emotional relief, perceived control, and relaxation benefits, supporting the quantitative results. These outcomes will contribute to the growing body of evidence that supports integrating music therapy into holistic patient care models, grounded in the transactional model of stress and coping and the bio-psycho-social approach. The study's primary contribution lies in providing robust empirical data on the efficacy of music therapy as a practical, non-invasive intervention to reduce hospital-related anxiety, thereby informing clinical practices and health policies. The research emphasizes the importance of personalized, culturally sensitive music programs and underscores the need for healthcare professionals to incorporate such interventions as part of routine care, especially for vulnerable inpatient populations. Concluding, the study recommends establishing standardized protocols for music therapy in hospital settings, training healthcare staff in basic music facilitation, and further research exploring long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Future investigations should consider larger, multisite samples and examine specific patient subgroups to generalize findings more broadly, thereby advancing integrated psychosocial interventions within hospital care frameworks.