Development of a music group psychotherapy intervention for the primary prevention of adjustment difficulties in Korean adolescent girls.

PROBLEM: Traditionally, adolescent mental health in Korea has not been a prime focus for educators, health workers, and politicians, yet a majority of sampled adolescents report interpersonal sensitivity (Kim, 2003).

METHOD: Thirty-five adolescent girls took part in a six-session school-based music group psychotherapy pilot intervention designed to promote relationships and improve self-control skills.

FINDING: Participants identified several outcome benefits that may serve as protective factors in their continued social and emotional development.

CONCLUSIONS

Music is a medium that promotes interpersonal relatedness among Korean adolescent girls. More research is necessary to identify long-term benefits of preventive music group psychotherapy interventions among the adolescent population.