Clinical Research Directory

Music Therapy for Character Development and Social Adaptation Among Rural Left-Behind Children

Rural left-behind children (LBC) are children in rural China whose parents have migrated to cities for work. They often face emotional and social difficulties because of long-term separation from parents. This study examines whether structured group music therapy can help improve the social adaptation of left-behind children. The study has two parts: 1. A survey of 3,445 rural students across six provinces and one municipality directly under the central government (including 1,210 left-behind children) to understand the relationship between personality traits and social adaptation. 2. A randomized controlled trial with 24 left-behind children aged 10-14 years. The intervention group receives eight weekly 90-minute group music therapy sessions led by a qualified music therapist; the control group receives no intervention. Children in both groups are assessed at three time points: before the program, immediately after the program, and one month later. The main outcomes are changes in personality traits (psychoticism, extraversion, neuroticism, and dissimulation) and social adaptation (psychological superiority, psychological energy, interpersonal adaptability, and psychological resilience). This study will provide evidence on whether group music therapy is a feasible and effective way to support the mental health and social adaptation of rural left-behind children.