94. The impact of vocal training on improving self-confidence in patients with depression

Abstract Background Patients with depression often exhibit low self-confidence, emotional withdrawal, and reduced social interaction. While traditional drug treatments can alleviate core symptoms, their effect on restoring self-esteem and psychological vitality is limited. Vocal training, as an important form of arts therapy, helps activate patients' emotional experiences and improve their self-awareness regulation through training in breath control, vocal resonance, and emotional expression. Studies show that music intervention can stimulate the limbic system of the brain and promote the processing of positive emotions, but evidence for the application of vocal training in improving self-confidence in patients with depression remains insufficient. To explore the impact of vocal training on the sense of self-worth and willingness to interact with society in patients with depression, this study designed a structured vocal training intervention program and evaluated its effectiveness. Methods The study included 60 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate depression through psychological evaluation, who were randomly assigned to either a vocal intervention group (n = 30) or a routine psychological counseling group (n = 30). The vocal intervention group received 10 weeks of training, twice a week for 60 minutes each time, including basic vocalization, breathing exercises, and singing expressing emotions, under the joint guidance of a music therapy instructor and a psychological counselor. Psychological changes were assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), while confidence transformation ability was measured using the General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES). Repeated measures ANOVA combined with paired-samples t-tests was used to compare the intervention effects. Results After intervention, the RSES score in the vocal group increased from an average of 21.6 ± 3.4 to 28.4 ± 3.1, with a confidence increase of approximately 31.5%, significantly higher than the 19.6% increase in the control group (p<.01). The GSES score increased from 23.1 ± 4.2 to 31.5 ± 3.7, an improvement of approximately 36.4%, compared to 28.0 in the control group (p<.05). The SDS score decreased from 62.8 ± 5.7 to 49.2 ± 5.1, with a symptom reduction of approximately 21.7%, better than the approximately 14.5% reduction in the control group (p<.05). A moderate positive correlation was found between vocal expression engagement and increased confidence (r = 0.42, p<.05). The training adherence rate was 91.3%, indicating a high level of acceptance of vocal learning among patients. Discussion The results showed that vocal training has a positive effect on emotional expression and self-worth activation, effectively improving the self-confidence of patients with depression and promoting symptom relief. Breath rhythm regulation and stage simulation training help enhance emotional release and improve self-cognition. Future research suggests combining neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to analyze the regulatory mechanisms of vocal intervention on the brain's emotional network and explore the suitability of different singing styles in the rehabilitation phase. Furthermore, combining vocal training with group psychotherapy can establish a multimodal arts rehabilitation system to further optimize the rehabilitation pathway for depression.