Art in Health: Angklung Musical-Based Interventions for Older Adults in Southeast Asia
May 25th, 2026
Muhammad Asyraf Mohd Bakri, Mohammad Kamal Mohd Sabran, Asrenee Ab Razak
This review explores how Angklung, a traditional Indonesian bamboo instrument, may support older adults in Southeast Asia. Listening, group playing, and assistive technologies show promise for memory, emotional regulation, social connection, and motor coordination. This culturally grounded approach could also enrich inclusive community care, but stronger, longer-term research is needed.
Journal of Urban Culture Research
DOI: 10.14456/jucr.2026.12
Posted bySarah Pearl
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Abstract/Description
Arts in healthcare can support emotional, cognitive, and social well-being among older adults.
Angklung, a traditional Indonesian bamboo instrument recognized by UNESCO, has potential
as a culturally grounded, music-based intervention in older adult care. This systematic review,
guided by the PRISMA framework, examined Angklung-based interventions for older adults
in Southeast Asia. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, with the
final search completed on 19 November 2024. English-language studies published between 2010
and 2024 were included if they focused on Angklung-based or Angklung-related interventions
involving older adults and reported outcomes related to well-being, cognition, emotion, social
engagement, motor function, or accessibility. A total of nine studies met the eligibility criteria.
The findings suggest that Angklung-based interventions may support memory recall, emotional
regulation, social interaction, motor coordination, and accessibility. Three intervention types
were identified: Music Angklung, involving listening-based engagement; Activity Angklung,
involving group performance; and Assistive Angklung, involving Smart Band and Internet of
Things-based support. Music and Activity Angklung were mainly associated with emotional,
cognitive, and social engagement, while Assistive Angklung supported participation among
older adults with physical or functional limitations. However, the evidence remains preliminary due to small samples, varied study designs, inconsistent reporting, and limited long-term
follow-up. Further research is needed to examine effectiveness, scalability, and integration into
community-based older adult care programmes. This review contributes by positioning Angklung as a culturally relevant, non-pharmacological approach with potential application in
arts-in-health and older adult care in Southeast Asia.
Angklung, a traditional Indonesian bamboo instrument recognized by UNESCO, has potential
as a culturally grounded, music-based intervention in older adult care. This systematic review,
guided by the PRISMA framework, examined Angklung-based interventions for older adults
in Southeast Asia. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, with the
final search completed on 19 November 2024. English-language studies published between 2010
and 2024 were included if they focused on Angklung-based or Angklung-related interventions
involving older adults and reported outcomes related to well-being, cognition, emotion, social
engagement, motor function, or accessibility. A total of nine studies met the eligibility criteria.
The findings suggest that Angklung-based interventions may support memory recall, emotional
regulation, social interaction, motor coordination, and accessibility. Three intervention types
were identified: Music Angklung, involving listening-based engagement; Activity Angklung,
involving group performance; and Assistive Angklung, involving Smart Band and Internet of
Things-based support. Music and Activity Angklung were mainly associated with emotional,
cognitive, and social engagement, while Assistive Angklung supported participation among
older adults with physical or functional limitations. However, the evidence remains preliminary due to small samples, varied study designs, inconsistent reporting, and limited long-term
follow-up. Further research is needed to examine effectiveness, scalability, and integration into
community-based older adult care programmes. This review contributes by positioning Angklung as a culturally relevant, non-pharmacological approach with potential application in
arts-in-health and older adult care in Southeast Asia.
