We overestimate the relationship between the social impact and health or not? - A comparative study: The effect of singing in a group on personal wellbeing versus that of playing music individually on personal wellbeing

Abstract

There were two main objectives of this study: (1) to re-examine the social impact and the effect of music on personal wellbeing in the context of making music in a group an individually (2) To explore the elements that affect the results of the research on the objective (1). A qualitative method gives means to my research, consisting of a questionnaire survey and a semi-structured interview in depth. There were 40 participants joining the research, each with music-making experience in both group-making and individual making music experience, both in group or individually. 40 of them filled out the Questionnaire A ‘the correlation of group singing to personal wellbeing’ and 14 of 40 participants filled out the Questionnaire B ‘the correlation of playing music alone to personal wellbeing’. By comparative analysis, the data results show that university students have a positive experience while making music in a non-social environment so that they benefit more from this kind of music activity. A combination of the findings with the interview suggests that there are three elements contributing to the findings: expression of personal emotions, autonomy and achievement of personal goals. In sum, singing in the choir can promote participants' health, however, making music individually have a more positive effect on wellbeing. Therefore, there is a conclusion, which is that we overestimate the social impact on personal wellbeing and underestimate the effect of music experience on personal wellbeing in the context of making music.