The Effect of Music on the Happiness of Turkman Elderly in Day Care Centers

Introduction: Happiness is essential for all age groups, particularly the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the impact of music on the happiness levels of elderly Turkman individuals residing in Day Care Centers in Bandar Turkman and Gomishan cities, Golestan province, Iran, in ۲۰۲۳. Methods: A quasi-experimental, before-and-after design was employed, involving ۷۴ elderly participants from two day care centers in Golestan province. Of the total elderly population in day care centers in Bandar Turkman and Gomishan cities (۹۵ people), ۳۷ people from Bandar Turkman (intervention group) and ۳۷ people from Gomishan (control group) were selected and entered into the study based on the inclusion criteria using convenience sampling. Group matching was conducted based on gender. Happiness was assessed using the Oxford Happiness Inventory at the beginning and end of the intervention for both groups. The intervention consisted of ۱۲ group music therapy sessions, each lasting ۴۵-۵۰ minutes, three times a week, involving the playing of happy Turkman music. Data analysis were performed using SPSS version ۲۶, including Chi-square, Pearson correlation, and independent t-tests. Results: The mean happiness score post-intervention was significantly higher in the intervention group (۷۰.۵۱ ± ۸.۱۷) compared to the control group (۲۸.۴۳ ± ۶.۹۳) (p < ۰.۰۵). Additionally, a significant increase in mean happiness scores was observed within the intervention group before and after the intervention (p < ۰.۰۵). The impact of music intervention on happiness varied based on factors such as marital status (p < ۰.۰۵), employment status (p < ۰.۰۵), education level (p < ۰.۰۵), and gender (p < ۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Given the positive influence of music on the happiness of elderly individuals, music therapy can be a valuable tool to enhance their mental health. To promote active and joyful aging, it is recommended that elderly care center administrators incorporate authorized and local music into their programs.

Keywords:

Music , Happiness , Aged , Day Care Center