with Jessie Chan
Hey KnoxVan Community,
Are you interested in participating in a
UBC Research Project
– The Power of The ARTS?
Jessie Chan is doing her master thesis; here is how she describes the study:
” I am very passionate about promoting healthy aging. Therefore, my project is centred around investigating how the arts and social interaction may improve cognition, mood, and quality of life in those who are aging normally but may want to see if they can improve these areas of their lives.”
Check out this invitational video describing the Study and please consider participating.
To examine this, participants engage in an activity on their own time for 10 weeks. There are 5 activities that individuals may randomly be assigned to. The first activity would consist of listening to beloved music that brings back fond memories from childhood each week, the second activity involves listening to beloved spoken word (fables, prayers, stories, poems etc.) that bring back fond memories from their childhood each week, the third activity is listening to music with a close friend or relative each week, the fourth activity would be spending quality time with a close friend or relative, and the fifth activity is called our business as usual group. Those in the last group go on with their daily lives and don’t have to worry about doing anything for the 10 weeks!
We ask that participants spend around 90 minutes doing each activity per week. This can be with a different person every single time (if they are in conditions 3 or 4), and they can engage in their activity whenever they want (e.g., 5 minutes one day, 20 the next, 40 another day etc.). Throughout the activity period, one of my research assistants or I will call every 2 weeks just to quickly check-in.
Also, every single participant gets to keep the audio device we provide them with to listen to the music or spoken word for free. Even those who don’t listen to anything will get the audio device at the end of the study.
As I mentioned before, I am very passionate about healthy aging and finding ways to help elders improve their cognition, mood, and quality of life. The inspiration for this project comes from several studies that demonstrate how music can temporarily improve cognition for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. None have implemented any interventions for adults aging normally, hence why I am interested in this particular project. To assess cognition, mood, and quality of life, we come and visit with participants and administer questionnaires, a short interview, and some games before and after their intervention begins. We want to be as inclusive as possible, and we welcome anyone who is 45 years of age or older who is interested.
Growing up in the church, one of the things I have always loved is how connected the church community is.”