Effectiveness of a participative community singing program to improve health behaviors and increase physical activity in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Jing Sun; Nicholas Buys

doi:10.1515/ijdhd-2012-0131

Article

Effectiveness of a participative community singing program to improve health behaviors and increase physical activity in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Jing Sun and Nicholas Buys

Published/Copyright: April 25, 2013

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From the journal International Journal on Disability and Human Development Volume 12 Issue 3

Abstract

Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals continue to experience greater levels of chronic disease than the general Australian population. Evidence suggests that increased sedentary behaviors compared with the traditional healthy and active lifestyles of this population have contributed to this situation. This investigation aimed to examine the health benefits of a community-based singing activity intervention on chronic disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Methods: From 2010 to 2011, 291 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, from Queensland, Australia, were recruited through five communities to participate in a 1-year community singing program. Participants completed a survey, in the pre- and post-intervention phases of the study, that measured social connectedness, health behavior (e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption), frequency of exercise and art activities, and medication use.

Results: Improvements in health behavior were observed for both male and female participants with chronic disease of all age groups in the community singing program. Improvements in the male and female participants included decreased social loneliness and reduced smoking behavior, increased social support, and increased participation in exercise and art activities.

Conclusions: The participative community singing program was successful in improving the health status and increasing physical activity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.

Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population; activities; health behaviors; participative community singing

Corresponding author: Dr. Jing Sun, School of Public Health and Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Parkland, QLD 4222, Australia, Phone: +61 7 5552 7875, Fax: +61 7 5552 8799

The authors received financial support from Griffith Health Institute and the Provost Chancellor Office at Logan Campus at Griffith University, Queensland Centre for Social Innovation, and Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council. The authors also wish to acknowledge the support of the following Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services: Kambu Medical Service Centre Pty Ltd., Kalwun Health Service, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane Ltd., Goolburri Health Advancement Corporation, and Warwick Community. The authors also wish to thank all the participants from the five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Conflict of interest statement

Authors’ conflict of interest disclosure: The authors stated that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article. Financial support played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.

Research funding: None declared.

Employment or leadership: None declared.

Honorarium: None declared.

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Received: 2012-10-22

Accepted: 2012-10-25

Published Online: 2013-04-25

Published in Print: 2013-08-01

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ijdhd-2012-0131

Keywords for this article

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population; activities; health behaviors; participative community singing