Application of Re-Creative Music Therapy in Emotion Management—A Single-Case Action Research Study Based on Song Re-Creation Techniques

Abstract

This study adopted a single-case action research design to explore the effects of song re-creation, a technique within re-creative music therapy, on emotion regulation. The participant was a 17-year-old female adolescent experiencing pronounced anxiety symptoms related to academic stress, including physiological responses like accelerated heart rate and rapid breathing, and cognitive manifestations like difficulty concentrating. Drawing on therapeutic principles of song re-creation, catharsis theory, and self-determination theory, an intervention was developed around the Cantonese song A Love Before Time. The intervention comprised three components: song selection, lyric modification, and melodic adaptation. The original theme of unattainable love was metaphorically linked to the participant’s anxiety from unattained academic goals, allowing her to incorporate anxious experiences into rewritten lyrics. During the 60-minute intervention, the participant revised lyrics to reflect her emotional state and incorporated coping strategies like deep breathing. Melodic elements, including tempo and pitch, were adjusted to enhance emotional expressiveness. Changes in emotion before and after the intervention were documented using an emotion-rating scale, physiological indicators, and qualitative interviews. Following the intervention, the participant’s anxiety rating decreased from 8 to 5, and heart rate declined from 95 to 78 beats per minute, indicating a meaningful immediate reduction in anxiety. Findings provide preliminary reference for re-creative music therapy in emotion management among students, suggesting song re-creation helps individuals externalize emotions and strengthen active coping capacity.