Evidence of religious/spiritual singing and movement in mental health: A systematic review.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.