The Effect of Online Music Therapy Interventions on Reducing Stress Levels in Small Hotel Managers: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study

Abstract The rapidly changing business environment and increasing uncertainties due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic since 2020 have led to heightened stress levels among managers. This study employed a mixed-method design to examine the effects of online music therapy interventions on reducing stress levels in small hotel managers. Thirteen managers participated in the online music therapy program, which consisted of six weekly music therapy sessions and self-guided music interventions for practice during the week. The music therapy interventions included music-assisted relaxation, improvisation, music listening with drawing, moving with music, song discussion, songwriting, and singing. The intake questionnaire collected participants’ demographic information and musical backgrounds. The Thai Perceived Stress Scale-10 (T-PSS-10) and Visual Analog Scale of Stress (VAS-S) were used to measure perceived stress levels. A paired t-test analysis compared the average participants’ perceived stress scores between pre and post-tests. Results demonstrated a significant reduction in perceived stress scores. Both the VAS-S for music therapy interventions and self-guided music interventions showed significant decreases after participation in each music therapy session and self-guided practice. In conclusion, online music therapy interventions can effectively reduce the perceived stress levels of managers facing uncertainty in small hotel businesses.