The use of lullaby to support social and emotional wellness among parents during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted loneliness as a major risk factor for mental health difficulties among parents. Shared musical experiences may be an effective way to create social bonds. We adapted Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project to a remote format. Parents experiencing loneliness were enrolled in the study ( N = 40) and completed assessments at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Participation was associated with significant improvement in self-reported loneliness, self-reported sense of belonging, implicit sense of belonging, self-reported depression, and self-reported anxiety. However, the difference between implicit belonging and rejection did not significantly change over time, and there was no evidence for change in self-reported parent–child connection. In contrast to the quantitative findings, the qualitative responses suggested that participants experienced an enhancement in parent–child connection following intervention completion. The findings highlight the potential for remote administration of music programs to address isolation and loneliness.