Comparison of Live and Virtual Music-based Interventions in Mitigating Stress

NCT07581639 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 01082025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to learn if virtual music therapy with active engagement components leads to the same benefits as traditional live music therapy in mitigating stress in older adults. This study aims to compare live and virtual music interventions among older adults with cognitive impairment living in assisted living facilities.

Conditions

Stress; Dementia; Cognitive Impairment

Keywords

Comparison of virtual versus live music therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Self-reported stress levels

  The self-reported stress survey was adapted and modified from Levenstein et al. (1993), with question wording modified to reduce the reading level. The stress-assessment survey was condensed to a total of 10 questions, each rated on a 4-level Likert scale from strongly disagree (0) to strongly agree (3). To maintain consistency, the rating on 4 items indicating lack of stress was reversed, so that 0 corresponded to 3 points. The total score was calculated by adding the individual scores for each question (score range, 0 to 30, where a higher rating corresponds to greater stress).

  Baseline (15 minutes before the music intervention session) and follow-up (15 minutes after the music intervention session was completed)

• Heart rate (HR)

  Registered nurses at each assisted living facility measured and recorded each participant's heart rate (HR) using an oxygen saturation monitor (Oxiline, Inc.). The monitor was placed on each participants' finger and the heart rate was recorded for a 1-minute interval 15 minutes before and after each music-based session.

  Baseline (15 minutes before the music intervention session) and follow-up (15 minutes after the music intervention session was completed)

• Systolic blood pressure

  Systolic blood pressure was measured using a sphygmomanometer (Curaplex, Inc.) immediately after the heart rate measurement

  Baseline (15 minutes before the music intervention session) and follow-up (15 minutes after the music intervention session was completed)

Study Arms (2)

Live music therapy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The live music intervention was presented in the activities room of each senior center and included a classical violin for the performer (a classically trained violinist with experience arranging and playing pop music), a second violin for participant engagement, and a computer speaker for digital sound output (Dell, Inc.). The live music intervention sessions included multiple active engagement components, such as music adjustment (e.g., lowering the tempo, changing to an upbeat piece) to match participants' apparent mood, verbal interaction, physical engagement (e.g., encouraging dancing, on-beat clapping), and singing along.

Behavioral: Live music therapy

Virtual music therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

The virtual intervention followed identical procedures as the live intervention and involved similar active engagement components, with the music being delivered to the same cohort via video conference (Zoom Communications, Inc.).

Behavioral: Virtual music therapy

Interventions

Virtual music therapy BEHAVIORAL

The virtual intervention followed identical procedures as the live intervention and involved similar active engagement components, with the music being delivered to the same cohort via video conference (Zoom Communications, Inc.). In both live and virtual sessions, the performer showed identical levels of engagement and adjustment.

Virtual music therapy

Live music therapy BEHAVIORAL

The live music intervention was presented in the activities room of each senior center and included a classical violin for the performer (a classically trained violinist with experience arranging and playing pop music), a second violin for participant engagement, and a computer speaker for digital sound output (Dell, Inc.). The live music intervention sessions included multiple active engagement components, such as music adjustment (e.g., lowering the tempo, changing to an upbeat piece) to match participants' apparent mood, verbal interaction, physical engagement (e.g., encouraging dancing, on-beat clapping), and singing along.

Live music therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Lives in included assisted living facility
• years or older
• Able to provide informed consent
• Able to hear music
• Able to see a computer screen
• Able to speak

You may not qualify if:

• Does not live in included assisted living facility
• Younger than 65 years
• Unable to provide informed consent
• Unable to hear music
• Unable to see a computer screen
• Unable to speak

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Pennsylvania: lead
• Conestoga High School: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Conestoga High School

Berwyn, Pennsylvania, 19312, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dementia; Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Cognition Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 27, 2026
• First Posted: May 12, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: September 27, 2025
• Study Completion: September 27, 2025
• Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)