Clinical Research Directory

Music Therapy for Character Development and Social Adaptation Among Rural Left-Behind Children

Rural left-behind children (LBC) are children in rural China whose parents have migrated to cities for work. They often face emotional and social difficulties because of long-term separation from parents. This study examines whether structured group music therapy can help improve the social adaptation of left-behind children. The study has two parts: 1. A survey of 3,445 rural students across six provinces and one municipality directly under the central government (including 1,210 left-behind children) to understand the relationship between personality traits and social adaptation. 2. A randomized controlled trial with 24 left-behind children aged 10-14 years. The intervention group receives eight weekly 90-minute group music therapy sessions led by a qualified music therapist; the control group receives no intervention. Children in both groups are assessed at three time points: before the program, immediately after the program, and one month later. The main outcomes are changes in personality traits (psychoticism, extraversion, neuroticism, and dissimulation) and social adaptation (psychological superiority, psychological energy, interpersonal adaptability, and psychological resilience). This study will provide evidence on whether group music therapy is a feasible and effective way to support the mental health and social adaptation of rural left-behind children.

A Migration-Focused Adaptation of EMDR for Psychological Distress Among Turkish Migrants

Many people who migrate to new countries experience significant emotional and psychological challenges. These challenges can include depression, anxiety, stress, and difficulty adjusting to a new culture and society. This pilot study examined whether a specialized form of psychotherapy called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), adapted specifically for migration-related experiences, may help reduce these psychological difficulties and support social adaptation. Participants were first-generation Turkish adults living in five European countries-the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, and Austria-who reported emotional distress associated with migration and adaptation challenges. They received 12 weekly individual sessions delivered by licensed EMDR therapists, focusing on distressing experiences and difficulties related to adjusting to life in a new country. Before and after the therapy, participants completed questionnaires measuring their levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and their sense of social adaptation in their new communities. This is a small single-arm pilot study without a control group. It was designed to provide preliminary information that may inform larger controlled trials.