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. 2025;23(2):142-161.
doi: 10.1080/15350770.2024.2309489. Epub 2024 Feb 5.

A Qualitative Pilot Study of Adolescents' Characteristics and Experiences Delivering a Digital, Intergenerational Music Program to Older Adults with Alzheimer's and Dementia

Jennie L Dorris  1 , Juleen Rodakowski  1 , Lauren Terhorst  1 , Stephen Neely  2 , Ketki Raina  1
Affiliations

A Qualitative Pilot Study of Adolescents' Characteristics and Experiences Delivering a Digital, Intergenerational Music Program to Older Adults with Alzheimer's and Dementia

Jennie L Dorris et al. J Intergener Relatsh. 2025.

Abstract

Music interventions show promise to support critical areas of decline for those living with dementia. There is a gap in identifying the skills and experiences necessary to facilitate the music activities in such an intervention. This pilot research creates an understanding of the characteristics and experiences of adolescent musicians who facilitated a digital, intergenerational music intervention. The research team conducted in-depth interviews with the adolescent participants and used descriptive phenomenological methodology. Eight adolescent musicians participated in the study, ranging from 14 to 18 years old. For characteristics, adolescents reported prior experience in music and key social supports. For experiences, adolescents reported decreased performance anxiety and increase in human connection and understanding of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. There is potential for researchers to explore if adolescents who facilitate such a music intervention experience less performance anxiety as well as more empathy for those living with dementia.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s; adolescents; dementia; intergenerational; music.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The research team did not have conflicts of interest to report.

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