Abstract
Children living in under-resourced communities are at higher risk for developing poor emotion regulation (ER) skills. Opportunities to practice managing physiological arousal may help alleviate poor ER. The preventive Musical Contour Regulation Facilitation (MCRF) intervention is designed to promote preschooler ER development through alternating music experiences that offer practice managing high and low physiological arousal. We implemented it with 43 preschoolers in Head Start to examine intervention intensity. A board-certified music therapist facilitated the MCRF with preschoolers either three times a week (n = 21, M = 3.4 yrs) or once a week (n = 22, M = 3.4 yrs) across 11 weeks. Parents and teachers reported observed ER behaviors pre- and post-implementation, and regulatory levels were assessed pre- and post-session. We found no significant differences in ER between intensity conditions and a general trend towards improved regulatory state across implementation, although variations existed. Overall, study findings will help us further operationalize the MCRF intervention for future clinical application.
•Music therapy can help children manage emotion regulation-based arousal states.•Music interventions are complex and need careful and systematic development.•No differences in regulation based on one or three music intervention sessions a week.•Changes in regulation were observed and self-reported across implementation.•More sensitive assessments are needed for complex music interventions.
