Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Starting university can be a challenging experience, leading to a loss of identity and feelings of social disconnection. This period can be critical in terms of emerging mental health issues and/or the worsening of existing problems with mental wellbeing. Evidence from support services suggests that recently there have been an increased number of referrals for mental health issues, particularly anxiety and depression, and especially within new students. Many existing services are over-subscribed, with lengthy waiting lists. Research has demonstrated that music programs such as songwriting or singing may help to reduce mental distress and improve social engagement. Songwriting is a universally accessible process and popular art form, which is being used with a wide range of people. Therapeutic songwriting operates through a mechanism of change, which allows participants to reflect upon and engage with their experiences. Whilst the act of group participation in this type of activity is also known to promote social bonding. The aim of this study is to find out whether taking part in a short, weekly, songwriting program can help lower distress and improve wellbeing in first year university students.
Who can participate?
First year students registered at Canterbury Christ Church University, who self-identify as stressed.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. One group attends a one and a half hour interactive songwriting workshop, led by an experienced music workshop leader, once a week for five weeks. The other group are placed on a waiting list and do not take part in any additional activities during the study period. At the start of the study and again five weeks later, participants in both group complete questionnaires to assess their anxiety and depression levels, general wellbeing and loneliness.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from improved mental wellbeing and enjoying taking part in a shared musical and social experience. The possible risks of taking part include any upset caused by discomfort in response to the songwriting work. Psychologists and workshop leaders will monitor participants' apparent state and behaviour throughout, and take any action where necessary to avoid any negative impact.
Where is the study run from?
Canterbury Christ Church University (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2017 to September 2017
Who is the main contact?
Dr Kate Gee
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Kate Gee
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9797-4594
Contact details
Canterbury Christ Church University
LF14
School of Psychology
Politics and Sociology
North Holmes Road
Canterbury
CT1 1QU
United Kingdom
+44 1227 767700 ext 3916
kate.gee@canterbury.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N00525 Heif 11-15
Study information
Scientific title
Blue Notes: A pilot randomised controlled trial using songwriting as an intervention to alleviate student mental health and wellbeing
Acronym
Blue Notes
Study hypothesis
Participation in a short, weekly, songwriting intervention may help lower student distress and improve student wellbeing.
Ethics approval
Canterbury Christ Church University, 26/10/2016, ref: 16/SAS/319C
Study design
Randomised parallel trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised parallel trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Condition
Stress
Intervention
Participants will be randomised individually with stratified allocation to the intervention and control groups.
Intervention group: Participants undertake group musical intervention, as facilitated by an experienced songwriter and community practitioner, under the guidance of a music psychologist. The treatment will take a songwriting focus and will run for 5 weeks, once a week, within a university location. The final session will be an opportunity to record their songs within a university recording studio.
Control group: Participants are placed on a waiting list for the duration of the intervention.
Follow up will occur one month after the end of the project. The waitlist control will then be offered the intervention at the end of the project.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Anxiety and depression, as measured using The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at baseline and 5 weeks.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Subjective wellbeing measured using the Satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) at baseline and 5 weeks.
2. Loneliness is measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale at baseline and 5 weeks
Overall trial start date
01/10/2014
Overall trial end date
10/05/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. First year students studying at Canterbury Christ Church University
2,. Aged 18 years and over
3. Self-identify as stressed or having been diagnosed or have self diagnosed with mild forms of depression and/or anxiety as measured by the baseline scale scores
Participant type
Other
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
80
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Under 18 years of age
2. Not attending Canterbury Christ Church University
3. Severe mental health problems
Recruitment start date
01/01/2017
Recruitment end date
13/02/2017
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Canterbury Christ Church University
LF14 (Laud) School of Psychology
Politics and Sociology
North Holmes Road
Canterbury
CT11QU
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
Higher Education Funding Council for England
Alternative name(s)
HEFCE
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
other non-profit
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Publication is planned within a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD Sharing plan:
The current data sharing plans for the study are unknown, data will be made available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
31/05/2018
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2019 results in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30890979 [added 21/03/2019]