Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5744-3085

Date Available

6-8-2024

Year of Publication

2024

Degree Name

Master of Music (MM)

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Fine Arts

Department/School/Program

Music

First Advisor

Dr. Alaine E. Reschke-Hernández

Abstract

Humor is a ubiquitous human experience and a skill retained in older adulthood. It is also an integral but elusive therapeutic tool with numerous benefits and risks to well-being. Therapeutic humor – the application of humor to client well-being – is an emerging area of study. However, scant music therapy literature on humor is available. The purpose of this qualitative thesis was to explore the use and function of humor in music therapy with older adults from the perspectives of experienced music therapists. There were three research questions: (1) how do music therapists describe their use of humor with older adults; (2) how do music therapists describe older adults’ use of humor in music therapy sessions; and (3) how do music therapists describe the purpose of humor in music therapy? To answer these questions, I conducted an adapted qualitative multiple case study with four expert music therapists. I analyzed interview data using thematic analysis, which revealed four themes: (1) “Part of the Human Experience”; (2) Sociocultural Self-Other Awareness; (3) Therapeutic Humor Skills; and (4) “Humor with the Heavy.” Findings of this study provide insight into the purpose of humor in music therapy. Results also highlight therapeutic humor as worthy of future study.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2024.377

Funding Information

This study was supported by University of Kentucky Music Therapy Departmental Funds in 2024.

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