• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.31-49
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• 2024

The stress experienced by employees on international deployment has serious implications for their physical and mental health as well as their work performance. This study aimed to investigate the impact of resource-oriented music listening on work-related stress among employees on international deployment. The study recruited 10 participants of varying ages and occupations who had worked abroad for at least three years and conducted five personalized resource-oriented music listening sessions along with interviews. The Global Assessment of Recent Stress Scale (GARS) and Job Stress Scale (JSS) were used to measure stress levels before and after the intervention. Results showed that participants' work-related stress and perceived stress were significantly reduced following the music therapy intervention. The study also found that "awareness of own's life situation" and "self-acceptance of here and now emotional challenges" were factors that reduced regulatory stress among employees on international deployment. This study highlights the potential of resource-oriented music listening as a useful tool for managing workplace stress and promoting the well-being of expatriate employees.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.29-56
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an imagery-focused music listening program for improving emotion regulation among infertile women. For the program development in this study, the literature on emotional issues and coping strategy of infertile women was analyzed to establish theoretical foundation; and the literature on Supportive Music and Imagery (SMI) was analyzed to identify intervention components. Based on the established theoretical framework, the program was developed and finalized after evaluation of validity by four SMI professionals. The developed program was found to systematically target changes in emotions in the step-wise process of discovery, reinforcement, and affirmation of positive emotional resources. The list of music for future use was also identified and presented after systematic analysis of musical features in relation to valence and arousal of emotions. The imagery-focused music listening program was an initial approach to infertile women with SMI, which indicates the possibility of extended application for broadened clinical population.