MUSIC HEALTH AUSTRALIA - Music occupation

LITERATURE REVIEW New study confirming correlation between background music and work performance

Shih YN, Huang RH, Chiang HS

Abstract
It is a common phenomenon for office workers {to listen to music} while executing daily routines at their desks. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between work concentration level and background music. This research would first follow examples in previous researches, and then explore the influence of background music on participants' scores on attention tests. We hope to gain a preliminary understanding of the possible influence of background music on people's focus and concentration when doing work. Thirty-two college students were separated into three controlled groups; all were given the attention test. Group [a] listened to background music while being tested for 10 minutes; group [b] had no background music at all; and group [c] listened to the music for 10 minutes prior to the attention test. The test was conducted in a "noise free" environment. The means and error rates for each group were then calculated. The findings showed that, in comparison with "no music at all", those who listened to music prior to testing obtained higher scores in attentiveness (most probably a supplemental effect of the music), whereas those who listened to music during attention test showed extremely high level of variation in attention test scoring. Background music does affect people's job-site behavior. In fact, all three test conditions - no background music at all, background music before the work shift, and background music during work - have affected worker performance on different levels.

Music has been explored as a form of occupational performance within occupational therapy and occupational science literature. The term 'occupation' includes roles and participation in activities that are part of everyday living, both within and outside of paid employment. Music occupation is part of people's work, play, rest, recreation, and social roles across the age span.

Occupational therapists have a responsibility towards the enactment of occupation as a human right (World Federation of Occupational Therapists, 2006) because “everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits” (Article 27, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations, 1948). Community membership or citizenship is enabled through applying occupational justice principles not only in our work places, but in our daily lives.

Firstly some definitions, then a list of articles that are relevant to music occupation.

Occupations: In occupational therapy, occupations refer to the everyday activities that people do as individuals, in families and with communities to occupy time and bring meaning and purpose to life. Occupations include things people need to, want to and are expected to do (Approved by World Federation of Occupational Therapists Executive, July 2007).

Occupational therapy is based on the belief that the need to engage in occupation is innate and is related to survival, health, well-being, and life satisfaction. Occupational therapy, therefore, is a profession whose focus is on enabling a person (i.e. Individual client) or group of persons (i.e. group, community or an organisation client) to access and participate in activities that are meaningful, purposeful, and relevant to their lives, roles and sense of well-being’ (American Occupational Therapy Association Statement on Practice 2000, p. 3).

Occupational injustices exist when participation is barred, confined, segregated, prohibited, undeveloped, disrupted, alienated, marginalised, exploited or otherwise devalued (Townsend & Whiteford 2005, p. 112).

Occupational apartheid is:
The segregation of groups of people through the restriction or denial of access to dignified and meaningful participation in occupations of daily life on the basis of race, colour, disability, national origin, age, gender, sexual preference, religion, political beliefs, status in society, or other characteristics. Occasioned by political forces, its systematic and pervasive social, cultural, and economic consequences jeopardise health and well being as experienced by individuals, communities, and societies (Kronenberg & Pollard 2005, p. 67).

USE OF MUSIC IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

References

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References

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References

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References

Goddard, T. (2005) The isue is: Expanding the community role for occupational therapy: Becoming political in the corporate sector. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, March/April, 59(2), 225-230.

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