The Effectiveness of Music Therapy on Anxiety, Self-esteem, and Social Adjustment of Children With Cancer in Kerman

Abstract

Background: Cancer is the second largest cause of child mortality after accidents worldwide. Childhood cancers have an average incidence in Iran, with 176 cases in one million people. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of music therapy on anxiety, self-esteem, and social adjustment of children with cancer in Kerman in 2019. Methods: A quasi-experimental method with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group was used in this study. The statistical population of research included all children with cancer admitted to Afzalipour hospital in Kerman (Iran) in 2019, and thirty children were selected by the convenience sampling method and then randomly divided into experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. Data were collected using the children’s Multidimensional Anxiety Scale, the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory, and California Social Adjustment Scale. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS22 through the multivariate analysis of covariance. Results: The results indicated that music therapy was effective in reducing anxiety (P<0.001, F=179.29) while increasing self-esteem (P=0.001, F=120.60) and social adjustment (P=0.001, F=48.56) in children with cancer. Conclusion: It can be argued that music therapy in children with cancer has been successful for anxiety, self-esteem, and social adjustment and can be applied to alleviate psychological issues in children with cancer