The Use of Supportive Music and Imagery with Couples for the purpose of Improving Communication
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Author
Christmas, Pam
Date
2007
Degree
Master of Arts in Music Therapy
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if supportive music and imagery was
effective in improving communication among couples. The procedure included a
screening test (Relationship Assessment Scale created by Susan Hendrick, 1988) in order
to help verify that the couple had a healthy relationship. A score between 25 and 30 was
needed to qualify for this study. The couple who participated in this study achieved a
score of 30. A pretest and a posttest called The Primary Communication Inventory (PCI)
created by H.J. Locke, F. Sabaght, and Mary M. Thomes (1967) was used to measure the
effectiveness of the musical intervention. This instrument was designed to assess marital
communication and claimed to be a good indicator of the soundness of communication
between a couple. The results indicated a decrease in communication effectiveness of
four points among the husbands pretest and posttest. The wife’s score remained the
same.