Purpose : This study examines the effects of a traditional music program on depression and ego integrity among elderly nursing home residents. Given the limited social activities available in nursing homes, this study focuses on how traditional music interventions can improve the psychological and emotional well-being of nursing home residents.
Methods : A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design was used. Forty-three elderly residents from a nursing home in Incheon, South Korea, were selected through convenience sampling. Participants were assigned to either the experimental group (n= 22) or the control group (n= 21). The experimental group participated in an eight-week traditional music program, while the control group received no intervention. Depression levels were assessed using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), and ego integrity was measured using a nurse-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA.
Results : The results showed a significant reduction in depression among the experimental group who participated in the traditional music program compared to the control group (t= -1.863, p= .035). However, there was no significant improvement in ego integrity between the two groups (t= -1.863, p= .077). These findings suggest that the traditional music program was effective in alleviating depression but had limited impact on enhancing ego integrity in elderly residents.
Conclusion : Traditional music programs can be a valuable non-pharmacological intervention to reduce depression among elderly nursing home residents. While the music program significantly decreased depression, its effect on ego integrity was not as profound, indicating that longer or more frequent interventions might be necessary to influence ego integrity. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term effects of traditional music therapy on psychological well-being in elderly populations, as well as its potential to enhance social interaction and improve overall quality of life in nursing home settings.

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