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Evidence of religious/spiritual singing and movement in mental health: A systematic review.

Complementary therapies in clinical practice
May 1, 2022
Shikha Malviya et al. (3 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of religious/spiritual (R/S) singing and R/S movement (including dynamic meditation) as alternative mental health interventions.

Results Summary

The review found a positive trend for the effectiveness of R/S singing and movement (including dynamic meditation) in addressing mental health concerns, though the included studies were of moderate to poor quality. The limited number and methodological constraints of the studies suggest cautious interpretation of the findings.

Population

Not specified (general mental health concerns, likely diverse populations based on the review's scope).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (4)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
religious/spiritual (R/S) singing
decrease
mental health concerns
-
-
indicated a positive trend for the effectiveness
#1
religious/spiritual (R/S) movement
decrease
mental health concerns
-
-
indicated a positive trend for the effectiveness
#2
dynamic meditation
decrease
mental health concerns
-
-
indicated a positive trend for the effectiveness
#3
praise dance
decrease
mental health concerns
-
-
indicated a positive trend for the effectiveness
#4
Abstract

BACKGROUND: While mental health care needs have increased during the global pandemic, access to care has been reduced. Easily accessible alternative interventions may supplement existing mental health services to meet the increased need of mental health care. Our review explored the evidence of two alternative interventions, religious/spiritual (R/S) singing and R/S movement (dynamic meditation and praise dance), in relation to mental health outcomes. METHOD: After registering with PROSPERO (CRD42020189495), a systematic search of three major databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) was undertaken using predetermined eligibility criteria. Reference lists of identified papers and additional sources such as Google Scholar were searched. Quality of studies was assessed using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Data was extracted, tabulated, and synthesised according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: Seven of the 259 identified studies met inclusion criteria. Three studies considered R/S singing, while four considered R/S movement. In R/S movements, three studies considered dynamic meditation while one investigated praise dance. Although moderate to poor in quality, included studies indicated a positive trend for the effectiveness of R/S singing and movement in dealing with mental health concerns. CONCLUSION: While R/S singing and R/S movement (praise dance and dynamic meditation) may be of value as mental health strategies, findings of the review need to be considered with caution due to methodological constraints. The limited number and poor quality of included studies highlight the need for further quality research in these R/S practices in mental health.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansMeditationMental HealthMovementPandemicsSinging
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality50/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations6
Citations/Year2.0
Relative Citation Ratio1.41
NIH Percentile62.8%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score1.96
Normalized Score0.56
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