Investigating the Impact of Musical Soundscapes on Well-being: A Qualitative Focus Group Study Using Arts-Based Methods

This study explores the impact of musical soundscapes on well-being through a qualitative inductive thematic analysis. Utilizing focus groups and participatory arts-based methods, participants engaged with meditative soundscapes periodically over a week, sharing their responses through text, voice, and visual imagery. These multisensory responses were cross-referenced with focus group transcripts to deepen the thematic analysis. The findings reveal diverse positive outcomes, including personal, psychological, physiological, and sociocultural benefits. Notable emergent themes include intersensory synchrony, embodied musical affects, stress relief, self-transcendence, communal connection, and integrated well-being. The study underscores the capacity of musical experiences, which transcend cultural boundaries, to enhance well-being across these dimensions. These preliminary results highlight the potential of cross-cultural musicality to foster holistic well-being, suggesting that musical soundscapes can act as a powerful medium for enhancing well-being.