AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON MANAGING MENTAL DISORDERS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The value of communication can not be overemphasized. Communication has always been an important and vital component of human life. Without communication, humanity can not live since communication is the only mechanism through which ideas and information might be conveyed from one generation to the next. Baran (2011) is of the viewpoint that communication is the conveyance of information from a source to a receiver. "Communication has been variably described as the transfer of information, the interchange of ideas, or the act of developing a commonness or oneness of mind between a sender and a receiver." (Belch & Belch, p. 139, 2003)

Tasks such as information providing, education, and entertainment are just a few of the tasks of communication. In our everyday lives, these key activities are inescapable. Individuals' desires to learn more about and educate themselves about the world in which they live, as well as a desire to escape from the demands of life, lead to the usage of entertainment such as films, books, magazines, video games, and other forms of entertainment.

Defining music is a difficult process since there are many different definitions for music and none of them are accurate. Many people have made purposeful attempts to give music meaning in the manner that best fits them. As a result, scholars have presented their own definitions of music to try to establish a norm. According to Levinson (1990), as mentioned in Davies (2015), music is a type of art in which a person makes sounds for the soul with the goal of increasing experience via active involvement such as dancing, listening, and performing.

Medical research increasingly understands the crucial relationship between a person’s physical health and his or her mental/emotional wellbeing. Mind and body are united as one, each impacted by the other, and both are impacted by a person’s genetic inheritance, environment, and experience. Just as the absence of sickness does not sufficiently characterize physical health, mental health consists of more than the absence of mental diseases. Mental health is best regarded as falling along a continuum, which changes over time, and among people, as well as within a single one. As defined in this highlight, mental illnesses are diagnosable diseases marked by changes in thought, emotion, or behavior (or any combination of these) that are linked with distress or poor functioning (Knopf, Park & Mulye, 2008). 

As with symptoms of physical sickness, symptoms of mental diseases vary on a scale from moderate to severe. People with mental illness, however, frequently have to suffer the unique weight of the social stigma connected with their disease (Knopf, Park & Mulye, 2008).  This load often inhibits individuals from admitting their condition and from obtaining help and appropriate treatment for it. Just like with physical health, failing to treat symptoms early on may have major negative implications.

1.2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

Numerous studies have found positive associations between musical involvement and indices of mental health, implying the opposite, namely that musical participation may be protective against psychiatric issues.Although epidemiological research studying the link between music and the incidence of mental health disorders is uncommon, the few extant ones all tend to imply a favorable influence of music. For example, singing or playing music has been documented to have a good affect on numerous subjective health outcomes, including anxiety and depression. In essence, the direction of the link between musical participation and mental health is still uncertain with strong population based studies still unable to show a linkage conclusively.

This study seeks to investigate the effects of music on managing mental disorders.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the effects of music on managing mental disorders. Other specific objectives are:

1.     To investigate the causes of mental disorders.

2.     To decipher whether music can be a means to manage mental disorders.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.     What are the causes of mental disorders?

2.     Can music be a means through which mental disorders can be managed?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be helpful to clinics that have patients diagnosed with mental disorders as to how these disorders may be managed by using music. This study will also be an addition to the academic world as it will allow for other researchers to broaden the reach of this study and delve deeper into the imbued prowess of music videos in being a tool for managing mental disorders.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will only cover the effects of music as a tool for managing mental disorders. This study will investigate whether music can actually be a means through which mental disorders can be managed. Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Lagos, were the participants in this study.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

During the course of this research, the researcher was limited by the availability of funds to fully expatiate and execute the investigation into the imbued prowess of music in managing mental disorders.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

MUSIC: Vocal and instrumental sounds united in such a way as to create splendor of structure, synchronization and expression of sentiment.

MENTAL DISORDER: Any illness with significant psychological or behavioral manifestations that is associated with either a painful or distressing symptom.