A Trauma-Informed Music Composition Program Fostering Resilience in Survivors of Hospitalization
June 9th, 2026
Nomi C. Levy-Carrick, Julia R. Hall, Annie Lewis-O’Connor, Samata Sharma, Joy Allen, Richard D. Carrick
A trauma-informed, web-based music composition program helped survivors of serious hospitalization explore creativity, resilience, and self-efficacy. Across four virtual sessions, participants with no required musical training created original compositions with Teaching Artists. High retention and positive feedback highlighted connection, confidence, joy, and new perspectives.
Journal of Humanistic Psychology
DOI: st https://doi.org/10.1177/00221678261455076
Posted bySarah Pearl
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Abstract/Description
Background
Arts-based interventions may support resilience by strengthening creativity, self-efficacy, emotional expression, agency, and social connection. This study explored trauma-informed music composition as a creative approach to supporting people recovering from serious hospitalization.
Research Questions
Researchers examined whether a four-session virtual music composition program was feasible and acceptable for previously hospitalized adults and how participation affected self-reported resilience-related traits and self-efficacy.
Design and Methods
The mixed-methods pilot combined quantitative resilience and self-efficacy measures with qualitative participant feedback. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, retention, and program completion.
Participants
Fourteen adults ages 21–59 who had experienced serious illness requiring hospitalization during the COVID-19 era participated. No previous musical training was required.
Measures
Researchers used the **Brief Resilience Scale (BRS)**, **New General Self-Efficacy (NGSE) Scale**, and post-intervention and post-performance surveys. Measures captured changes in resilience-related traits, self-efficacy, and participants' experiences.
Procedures
Professional composers trained in trauma-informed care served as Teaching Artists. Each participant worked with the same Teaching Artist during four individual, one-hour virtual sessions.
Intervention Sessions
Across four sessions, participants progressed from introductory listening and creative exercises to developing, harmonizing, and completing an original composition. Participants received a written score and audio recording of their finished work.
Final Performance
Twelve completed compositions were performed by a professional string quartet during a live-streamed concert. Participants could then provide feedback about how hearing their work performed affected their experience.
Data Analysis
Researchers compared resilience and self-efficacy scores before and after the intervention and performance. Open-ended responses were also analyzed to identify common themes across participants' experiences.
Results
Feasibility
Twelve of 14 participants completed the intervention, an **85.7% retention rate**, while 10 completed post-performance measures. These results supported the feasibility of delivering the program virtually.
Resilience-Related Measures
Resilience and self-efficacy showed modest increases immediately following the intervention but decreased somewhat after the performance. The small sample prevented strong conclusions about whether the intervention caused these changes.
Qualitative Results
Five major themes emerged: **self-efficacy, new skills or perspectives, connection, pleasure, and novelty**. Participants commonly described increased confidence and accomplishment, enjoyment, meaningful connections, and discovering new forms of creativity.
Acceptability
11 of 12 participants would recommend the intervention, and all 10 post-performance respondents would recommend the performance. Although creating music could initially feel unfamiliar or vulnerable, overcoming these challenges often contributed to participants' sense of accomplishment.
Discussion
The findings suggest that trauma-informed virtual music composition is a feasible and promising way to foster self-efficacy, creativity, connection, and other resilience-related experiences after serious illness. Music may also engage neural systems involved in stress, emotion, memory, reward, motivation, and social connection.
Limitations
The study was limited by its small sample, lack of a control group, participant self-selection, and limited demographic and hospitalization data. Larger controlled studies are needed to determine the intervention's effectiveness.
Conclusion
Trauma-informed music composition was feasible and highly acceptable among survivors of serious hospitalization, including those without musical experience. Future research could examine larger and more diverse populations and use biometrics or neuroimaging to better understand how creative music-making supports resilience.
Arts-based interventions may support resilience by strengthening creativity, self-efficacy, emotional expression, agency, and social connection. This study explored trauma-informed music composition as a creative approach to supporting people recovering from serious hospitalization.
Research Questions
Researchers examined whether a four-session virtual music composition program was feasible and acceptable for previously hospitalized adults and how participation affected self-reported resilience-related traits and self-efficacy.
Design and Methods
The mixed-methods pilot combined quantitative resilience and self-efficacy measures with qualitative participant feedback. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, retention, and program completion.
Participants
Fourteen adults ages 21–59 who had experienced serious illness requiring hospitalization during the COVID-19 era participated. No previous musical training was required.
Measures
Researchers used the **Brief Resilience Scale (BRS)**, **New General Self-Efficacy (NGSE) Scale**, and post-intervention and post-performance surveys. Measures captured changes in resilience-related traits, self-efficacy, and participants' experiences.
Procedures
Professional composers trained in trauma-informed care served as Teaching Artists. Each participant worked with the same Teaching Artist during four individual, one-hour virtual sessions.
Intervention Sessions
Across four sessions, participants progressed from introductory listening and creative exercises to developing, harmonizing, and completing an original composition. Participants received a written score and audio recording of their finished work.
Final Performance
Twelve completed compositions were performed by a professional string quartet during a live-streamed concert. Participants could then provide feedback about how hearing their work performed affected their experience.
Data Analysis
Researchers compared resilience and self-efficacy scores before and after the intervention and performance. Open-ended responses were also analyzed to identify common themes across participants' experiences.
Results
Feasibility
Twelve of 14 participants completed the intervention, an **85.7% retention rate**, while 10 completed post-performance measures. These results supported the feasibility of delivering the program virtually.
Resilience-Related Measures
Resilience and self-efficacy showed modest increases immediately following the intervention but decreased somewhat after the performance. The small sample prevented strong conclusions about whether the intervention caused these changes.
Qualitative Results
Five major themes emerged: **self-efficacy, new skills or perspectives, connection, pleasure, and novelty**. Participants commonly described increased confidence and accomplishment, enjoyment, meaningful connections, and discovering new forms of creativity.
Acceptability
11 of 12 participants would recommend the intervention, and all 10 post-performance respondents would recommend the performance. Although creating music could initially feel unfamiliar or vulnerable, overcoming these challenges often contributed to participants' sense of accomplishment.
Discussion
The findings suggest that trauma-informed virtual music composition is a feasible and promising way to foster self-efficacy, creativity, connection, and other resilience-related experiences after serious illness. Music may also engage neural systems involved in stress, emotion, memory, reward, motivation, and social connection.
Limitations
The study was limited by its small sample, lack of a control group, participant self-selection, and limited demographic and hospitalization data. Larger controlled studies are needed to determine the intervention's effectiveness.
Conclusion
Trauma-informed music composition was feasible and highly acceptable among survivors of serious hospitalization, including those without musical experience. Future research could examine larger and more diverse populations and use biometrics or neuroimaging to better understand how creative music-making supports resilience.
