Music Therapy, Cultural Identity, and Behavioural Regulation in Severe Multiple Disabilities: Evidence from a Case Study
Abstract
Music therapy for people with severe multiple disabilities lacks individualized longitudinal studies that integrate behavioral regulation, communication, physical variables, and cultural identity. Music, especially when linked to the participant's identity, can act as a mediator of self-regulation, active participation, and social interaction. A single case study was conducted with a young Roma man with severe multiple disabilities. The intervention consisted of eight individual music therapy sessions, organized into three evolutionary phases. Culturally significant musical stimuli (flamenco, religious music, and structured songs) and different instruments (percussion, piano, and guitar) were used. The variables were recorded through video-assisted observation and analyzed using descriptive and inferential methods, complemented by qualitative analysis. High attendance throughout the sessions and a predominance of sitting time were observed, suggesting adequate behavioral and postural regulation. Body stability was significantly associated with higher levels of communicative interaction. Throughout the process, there was a musical progression from percussion to piano and a consolidation of flamenco as an identity axis, along with a progressive reduction in external self-regulation supports. Individualized and culturally sensitive music therapy promoted self-regulation, communicative participation, and autonomy, highlighting the value of musical identity as a central therapeutic element.
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References
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