Benefits of Group Singing for People with Eating Disorders: Preliminary Findings from a Non-Clinical Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the possible benefits of participation in group singing for people with eating disorders in a non-clinical context. The creation of a group singing workshop for women that exhibited disordered eating provided the opportunity to explore the participants’ experiences as perceived by them. A qualitative approach utilizing a semi-structured interview was employed to explore in depth the women’s perceptions regarding the group singing workshop. A thematic analysis of the data identified four main categories concerning the benefits of group singing for the population under study. The theoretical model of Sears (1968) of the processes in music therapy and its application on anorexic clients (Parente 1989) informed the discussion of the empirical findings.

Keywords

• group singing
• eating disorders
• emotional expression
• self-esteem