IMPACTO DEL SONGWRITING EN LA CALIDAD DE VIDA DE PERSONAS ADULTAS CON DISCAPACIDAD INTELECTUAL. The impact of songwriting on the quality of life of for adults with intellectual disabilities

ABSTRACT Background. The applications of music therapy have been studied in people with special educational needs. However, there is a lack of studies that use songwriting techniques to improve interpersonal relationships and routine tasks in people with intellectual disabilities in sheltered housing. Participants. Five adults with intellectual disabilities, aged 28 to 47 years (M 34.6; SD = 8.76), 40% women, participated with informed consent signed by their legal guardians. Methodology. Sixteen music therapy sessions were held twice a week, 60 minutes each, using songwriting techniques with a humanistic approach. The Wilcoxon test was used to measure pre- and post-test differences, and a one-factor ANOVA with repeated measures was used to analyze significant differences between different variables. Results. Wilcoxon's test showed post values (Mdn = 4) higher than the pre values (Mdn = 3) but without statistical significance (p = .32). The one-factor ANOVA revealed significant differences between variables, benefiting young people more (F= 73.6, p< .001; η2p= 0.95). There were no significant differences by sex or interaction between sex and age (p= .50 and p= .38, respectively). Conclusions. Songwriting techniques did not show substantial differences in pre-and post-test measures, but they did improve certain variables, especially in the youngest. No significant differences were found by sex, indicating that the benefits of music therapy depend more on age than gender. Keywords: music therapy, intellectual disability, songwriting, routine tasks, interpersonal relationships. RESUMEN Antecedentes. Las aplicaciones de la musicoterapia han sido estudiadas en personas con necesidades educativas especiales. Sin embargo, faltan estudios que usen técnicas de songwriting para mejorar relaciones interpersonales y tareas rutinarias en personas con discapacidad intelectual en viviendas tuteladas. Participantes. Cinco adultos con discapacidad intelectual, edades entre 28 y 47 años (M= 34.6; DT= 8.76), 40% mujeres, participaron con consentimiento informado y firmado por sus tutores legales. Metodología. Se realizaron 16 sesiones de musicoterapia, dos veces por semana, de 60 minutos cada una, usando técnicas de songwriting con un enfoque humanista. Se empleó la prueba de Wilcoxon para medir diferencias pre y post test, y un ANOVA de un factor con medidas repetidas para analizar diferencias significativas entre distintas variables. Resultados. La prueba de Wilcoxon mostró valores post (Mdn= 4) mayores que los pre (Mdn= 3), pero sin significancia estadística (p= .32). El ANOVA de un factor reveló diferencias significativas entre variables, beneficiando más a los jóvenes (F= 73.6, p< .001; η2p= 0.95). No hubo diferencias significativas por sexo ni interacción entre sexo y edad (p= .50 y p= .38, respectivamente). Conclusiones. Las técnicas de songwriting no mostraron diferencias significativas en medidas pre y post test, pero sí mejoraron ciertas variables, especialmente en los más jóvenes. No se encontraron diferencias significativas por sexo, indicando que los beneficios de la musicoterapia dependen más de la edad que del género. Palabras clave: musicoterapia, discapacidad intelectual, songwriting, tareas rutinarias, relaciones interpersonales.