The Relationship between Music Therapists’ Personal Use of Music and Work Engagement
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Author
Norman, Rachelle
Date
2009
Degree
Master of Arts in Music Therapy
Abstract
How do music therapists cope with the stressors involved with their work? Are
music therapists using music for self-care? Although music therapists certainly facilitate
and engage in music experiences with their clients, and although music therapists
routinely tout the benefits of participation in music experiences, little data exists
regarding music therapists’ use of music for themselves. Existing research on
occupational health has shown that workers with high levels of work engagement, that is
vigor, dedication, and absorption, have more positive personal experiences both in and
outside of the workplace; however, little is known about work engagement among music
therapists. At the same time, many music therapists have written about the importance of
music in their own lives, but little is known about how the population of music therapists
as a whole utilizes music outside of work settings. This researcher used a survey-based
study to investigate music therapists’ levels of work engagement as well as their personal
relationships with music, describing both music therapists’ level of work engagement and
personal uses of music as well as examining the relationship between these two
phenomena. Data analysis indicated that music therapists who participate in music
experiences more often have higher levels of work engagement, with some variation
depending on type of experience, setting, and purpose.