The Effect of a Music Intervention Program on Self-Esteem and Aggression in Korean Male Middle School Students with Maladjustment Problems

Abstract

Aggression and violent behavior among children and adolescents have become major public health and social issues in South Korea and elsewhere around the world. The level of violence may be especially high during adolescence, but the roots of aggression can be largely traced back to childhood. Thus, a great deal of attention has been devoted to understanding the factors that are relevant to aggressive and violent behavior in children and adolescents. In particular, the link between self-esteem and aggression is currently being debated by researchers. Self-esteem also represents a motivational force that affects perceptions and coping behavior; it buffers stress by mitigating the perceived threat and by enhancing the selection and implementation of efficacious coping strategies. Music has also been used as a psychotherapeutic strategy under certain conditions and in various populations. This chapter determines if music instrument performance program could increase self-esteem and decrease aggression among Korean male middle school students with maladjustment problems. 72 students participated and completed two measures in addition to being assigned to an intervention or control group. The music intervention generally focused on the effect of passive or simple interventions, such as listening to music or singing songs to infants or elderly persons with physical or cognitive problems. The chapter discusses the methods; procedures; research variables and measurement; and statistical analyses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)