Effects of an intergenerational choir for community-based seniors and college students on age-related attitudes

Journal/Book: J Music Therapy. 1998; 35: 8455 Colesville Rd, Ste 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Natl Assoc Music Therapy Inc. 2-18.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes of college students and senior citizens towards each other by incorporating successful components of a senior citizens' music program into the ''Adopt-A-Choir'' program established in a university music education/therapy program. Data collection was accomplished using the Age Group Evaluation and Description Inventory (AGED), providing insight into attitudes classified in 4 domains/evaluative scales: Goodness, Positiveness, Vitality, and Maturity. Subjects were members of the Senior Singers (n = 15, 15) and music education/therapy students enrolled in the Women's Glee Club at a local university (n = 15, 12). Results of the pre/post AGED survey were compared using the Wilcoxon Matched Pairs test, with means increasing significantly for the four domains (p < .02). Gains were greatest for the seniors, suggesting a stronger move from negative to positive attitudes. Though the gains were smaller with the university students, all changes were positive, with one exception: in the ''vitality'' domain, university student attitude ratings decreased on the continuum for ''timid-assertive.'' Informal predictors further suggested the partnership between seniors and university students was enjoyed by both sets of participants.

Note: Article Bowers J, Florida State Univ, Tallahassee,FL 32306 USA

Keyword(s): PERCEPTIONS; EDUCATION

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