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NCT Number: NCT07393581

Group Music Therapy for Emotional Well-Being and Social Connectedness

This randomized controlled trial evaluated whether two formats of group music therapy can improve emotional well-being, self-rated health, and social connectedness among undergraduate students living in urban areas in China. A total of 120 students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) active group music therapy, (2) receptive group music therapy, or (3) a waitlist control group.

Both music therapy programs were delivered in person over 6 weeks, with one 60-minute session per week facilitated by trained music therapists. The active format emphasized participatory music-making (e.g., singing, rhythmic activities, and group improvisation), while the receptive format focused on guided music listening and reflection.

Participants completed self-report questionnaires at baseline and immediately after the 6-week period assessing positive and negative affect, anxiety symptoms, general health, and perceived social connectedness. The study examined whether the two music therapy approaches led to improvements compared with the waitlist control condition.

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Key information

Conditions

Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Emotional Well-being Mental Disorders Social Connectedness

Age range

18 year–26 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Yangzhou University

Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225000, China

About this study

This study used a parallel-group randomized controlled design to examine the effects of two structured formats of group music therapy on emotional well-being, anxiety symptoms, self-rated health, and social connectedness among undergraduate students in urban China. Participants were recruited through university announcements and campus-based advertisements. Eligible participants provided informed consent and completed baseline assessments before being randomly allocated to one of three conditions: active group music therapy, receptive group music therapy, or a waitlist control group.

The intervention period lasted 6 weeks. Participants assigned to either music therapy condition attended weekly in-person group sessions of approximately 60 minutes in small groups (10-15 participants). Sessions were delivered by trained music therapists using standardized protocols to ensure structural equivalence across conditions. The active group music therapy format emphasized participatory music-making (e.g., group singing, rhythmic call-and-response, body percussion, and collaborative musical activities) and included brief guided group discussion at the end of each session. The receptive group music therapy format emphasized guided music listening, music-assisted imagery/visualization, reflective writing or moderated discussion, and relaxation/breathing exercises.

Participants in the waitlist control condition did not receive any intervention during the 6-week study period but completed the same baseline and post-intervention assessments as the intervention groups. After completion of the study, waitlist participants were offered the option to attend one group music therapy session.

All outcomes were assessed using self-report measures administered at baseline and immediately after the 6-week period.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Undergraduate university students aged 18 to 26 years

Living in an urban area in China

Able to attend weekly in-person group sessions for 6 weeks

Provided written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Self-reported severe active clinical diagnosis

Treatment and study plan

Active Group Music Therapy

Behavioral

Active group music therapy delivered in person once weekly for 6 weeks (60 minutes per session). Activities included group singing, rhythmic call-and-response, body percussion, simple percussion instruments, and collaborative musical games.

Receptive Group Music Therapy

Behavioral

Receptive group music therapy delivered in person once weekly for 6 weeks (60 minutes per session). Activities included guided music listening, music-assisted imagery/visualization, reflective writing or moderated discussion, and breathing/relaxation exercises.

Primary outcomes

  1. Anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 total score)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)

    Anxiety symptoms assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). Higher scores indicate greater anxiety severity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Positive affect (I-PANAS-SF Positive Affect subscale)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)

    Positive affect assessed using the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form (I-PANAS-SF), Positive Affect subscale. Higher scores indicate higher positive affect.

  2. Negative affect (I-PANAS-SF Negative Affect subscale)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)

    Negative affect assessed using the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form (I-PANAS-SF), Negative Affect subscale. Higher scores indicate higher negative affect.

  3. Self-rated general health (SF-36 General Health subscale)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)

    General health assessed using the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), General Health subscale. Scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating better perceived health.

  4. Social connectedness (Social Connectedness Scale-Revised)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)

    Social connectedness assessed using the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCS-R), Social Connectedness subscale. Higher scores indicate stronger perceived social connectedness.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Other

Collaborators

  • Yangzhou University

Registry information

Official study title

Group Music Therapy, Emotional Well-Being, Health, and Social Connectedness Among University Students in Urban China: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: GMT2025

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Feb 6, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 6, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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