Sophia Kalyvas
Research Mentor(s): Sandy Zalmout
Mentor Department: ICPSR
Authors: Sophia Kalyvas
Session: Session 6 (3:00pm – 3:50pm)
Presentation Type: Poster 52
Abstract
The neurodivergent population is often faced with various challenges that stem from their inability to adapt to a world that is suited towards the neurotypical individual. These various challenges, including heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli and the inability to maintain focus on less-preferred tasks, often cultivate psychological struggles that pose significant barriers to the individual’s academic success and personal wellbeing. Previous research has addressed how art and music-based therapies can serve as an effective coping mechanism in dealing with such struggles, as these interventions offer a nonverbal way for individuals to identify and communicate underlying stressors that are contributing to their anxiety, which is especially beneficial to the neurodivergent population who can oftentimes struggle with articulating their emotions into words. The results of such interventions usually have the effect of reducing symptoms of anxiety, stress, and hyperactivity, especially when these interventions are delivered in group-based settings that encourage peer support and connection. While the benefits of arts and music based therapies for neurodivergent individuals have been well-assessed in previous research studies, these interventions are rarely delivered to college students. Our study aims to deliver an arts and music based therapy session to neurodivergent students at the University of Michigan during finals season, which is time usually characterized by increased academic pressure and overall anxiety. We intend to bring in a local music therapist to lead a group music therapy session that integrates the sensory experience of creating music with the psychological experiences of self-expression and peer support to alleviate the excess pressure faced by students during a high stress time. By surveying the attendees before and after the intervention, we hope to see an overall improvement in stress levels, which will support our proposal for a permanent music-therapy at the university.
