Approximately every fifth child in Denmark experience mental health problems, mental illness, or low levels of school thriving before the age of ten, and 15% of Danish adolescent are diagnosed with a mental disorder before they turn 18. Mental health problems, low school thriving and mental illness in childhood and adolescence is a severe risk factor for school segregation, low grades, school dropout and mental illness in youth and adulthood. There is therefore an urgent need for feasible and effective mental health promoting and preventive interventions from early childhood.
High-quality music singing (e.g. choir singing) can promote well-being, social inclusion in school, and positive social relations among school-children, which are key prerequisites for strengthening children’s mental health. However, the potential benefits of this type of intervention have not been evaluated in a Danish context.
Purpose
Alle Kan Synge (AKS; Everyone Can Sing) is a class-based intervention in the Danish primary school that includes class choir among all students in 0 to 3rd grade as part of their regular school schedule. The choir lessons are taught by a trained choir leader in close collaboration with the class teacher. AKS was developed in 2018 as a collaboration between a local primary school (Herstedøster skole (HØS)), music school and church choir in Albertslund and tested as a prototype at HØS, where it is now fully implemented.
The feasibility study will be carried out among all 0 to 3rd grade students in three Danish elementary schools: HØS where AKS was initiated and two additional schools.
The aim of this feasibility study is to explore the feasibility of implementing AKS and assess feasibility of the evaluation design. Findings will provide knowledge on the critical aspects of the intervention, which may lead to a refinement of the intervention, the implementation processes or evaluation design.
Method
AKS is based on two dimensions to explore feasibility of implementing AKS (WP1) and the evaluation design (WP2).
In WP1, interviews with teachers, students and choir leaders will be conducted to identify barriers and facilitators for implementing AKS, investigate the acceptance of AKS as well as the perceived benefits of participation. Furthermore, the AKS activities will be observed during 2024. Quantitative data about the acceptance of AKS will be collected in the followup questionnaire.
In WP2, both quantitative and qualitative methods are employed to assess the evaluation design. A questionnaire for students will be developed and validated through interviews with students. Questionnaire data from baseline and follow-up among students, teachers, and parents are used to address uncertainties in data collection and outcome measures, as well as to highlight any changes between baseline and follow-up.
Project Period
August 2023 to January 2027.
Collaboration and funding
The study is supported by grants from TrygFonden.
The research project is led and carried out by a research group at the National Institute of Public Health, SDU, consisting of PhD student Anne Tetens, senior researcher Susan Andersen, intern Emilie Frederikke Møller-Andersen and senior researcher Katrine Rich Madsen (PI) in close collaboration with Professor Emeritus Lars Ole Bonde and Professor Pia Jeppesen.
Collaboration: The non-profit organization Foreningen Alle Kan Synge