Musicoterapia e integración social en menores infractores: Un estudio de casos

Abstract

This article presents the results of a study with the objective of demonstrating if the use of music therapy, through adaptation of the Orff method, helps imprisoned young offenders improve their mood and emotional stability and if this favors the development of personal abilities for social reintegration. The research design was descriptive, using mixed methods. Techniques used for data collection were structured observation and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). The study target was youth offenders who are institutionalized at a juvenile detention center in the city of Coimbra (Portugal). Results indicate that music therapy, for this population, largely reduces levels of anxiety and related stress and contributes to greater group cohesiveness in terms of improving social skills, particularly skills related to frustration.