Playing with Pain: Experiences of Music Group Membership and Psycho-Social Wellbeing for Adults Living in the Community with Persistent Pain

Abstract

Existing literature exploring the efficacy of musical modalities in the management of persistent pain primarily focus on music listening interventions. Whilst some studies explore the role of active music participation on pain management, most of these studies focus on choirs. Given the cost effective and accessible nature of community centered interventions, this study aimed to explore the experiences of individuals who participate in community music groups and live with persistent pain to understand potential benefits and challenges. Music groups were defined as a recurring, scheduled musical activity between two or more people. Using a qualitative design, eight participants participated in semi-structured interviews which were subsequently analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants lived with persistent pain of various origins and participated in a range of music groups including bands of different genres, cabaret groups and choirs. Four themes were identified. Analysis indicated that there were a range of benefits to music group participation, including increased positive affect, distraction from pain and increased social support. Challenges of music group participation were potential pain exacerbation. Overall, music group participation protected against psycho-social challenges co-occurring with pain. Findings from this study support the use of community music groups as a modality to assist individuals living with persistent pain. Avenues for further research include investigating what instruments and roles within music groups are most suitable for individuals of different pain categorisations.