MUSIC-BASED EMOTION REGULATION (MBER) INTERVENTION MANUAL FOR PREVENTION OF DEPRESSION IN OLDER PERSONS

Abstract

Despite unprecedented growth of the aging population and the need for evidence-based programs that target prevention of age-related depression, there is paucity of such programs in and outside music therapy. Lack of music-guided prevention programs makes it challenging for music therapists to make informed decisions about how to use music to increase emotion regulation skills of older adults in depression prevention framework. The purpose of this dissertation was to develop an intervention manual based on the Music-based Emotion Regulation (MBER) model, a theoretical model that suggests four emotion regulation strategies targeting depression prevention in older persons (Jang, 2016b). The manual was created within two integrated models of intervention and manual development (i.e. Preventive Intervention Research Cycle, Stage Model of Manual Development) and provided program overview, theoretical mechanisms of change, literature support, program delivery schedule, session-by-session content, and fidelity criteria. The intervention was designed and described in a way that supports transparent and detailed reporting which may contribute to increased clinical utility, facilitation of replication studies, and further refinement and tailoring of the intervention. The manual development process was strategically placed within the author’s own research and will direct future MBER research line. Implications and suggestions for future research and clinical practice are discussed.