Promoting Prosociality and Health through Musical Interventions with Groups at Risk of Social Exclusion: A Systematic Review

Abstract

There is evidence that promoting prosociality through music helps activate participation and integration with the environment, supporting the emergence of empathic responses and fostering bonds between people, especially those with societal inclusion difficulties. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of psychosocial intervention programs that have used musical techniques to promote prosociality in populations at risk of social exclusion. The search was performed following PRISMA methodology guidelines in the Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, PubMed, and ProQuest databases between 2000 and 2021. A total of 11 studies met the selection criteria. The type of musical activity applied, research design, sample sociodemographic characteristics, measurement instruments and effectiveness were compared. Despite the heterogeneity of the interventions, populations, and contexts among the studies, music was found to be a potential resource for increasing prosocial behaviors, promoting physical and psychological health, and constructing alternatives to antisocial behaviors through the creation of safe spaces for creatively expressing subjectivity, providing prosocial referents, and facilitating cohesive and positive relationships. The limitations highlight the importance of investigating other variables within the studied populations, such as the age of the beneficiaries, the psychosocial problems they present, the level of risk they present, or even their motivations for participating in these programs. It can be concluded that this type of intervention has an impact on the increase in prosocial behaviors in people at risk of social exclusion. However, future studies should address methodological aspects related to the intervention itself, such as the duration of the intervention and the types of activities developed in these programs.