The Effects of a Music-centered Integrated Arts Therapy Program on Depression and Ego Integrity in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Controlled Pilot Study

Objective : This study aimed to validate the preliminary effects of a music-focused integrated arts therapy program on reducing depression and improving self-integration in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Methods : This study was conducted from Sept. 23 to Nov. 25, 2024, and involved 20 elderly people over 65 years of age who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and enrolled at the Dementia Care Center in P city. Participants were divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received a total of 10 music-centered integrated art therapy programs, 90 minutes once a week. To evaluate depression and self-integrity before and after the intervention, we used the Korean Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS) and the Self-Integrity Scale. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 29.0. We investigated group homogeneity at baseline using the Mann-Whitney U test, and evaluated pre-post changes within the group using the Wilcoxon sign ranking test. Results : After the intervention, the experimental group showed significantly reduced depression and improved ego integrity compared to the control group. Conclusion : This music-centered integrated arts therapy program has been shown to be an effective arts-based program in reducing depression and improving self-integrity in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that participation in integrated art activities that combine music, visual art, and body movement can promote emotional expression, support self-acceptance and life integration, and ultimately improve self-integrity. Furthermore, the program demonstrates practical applicability for use in community-based care settings.