Abstract
Background: This study aims to investigate the response variation to group drumming, a rhythmic intervention known for its potential to reduce stress and enhance well-being. We employed principal component analysis (PCA) to uncover the latent structure of this variation, with a focus on identifying emotional and physiological activity indicators in response to group drumming intervention.
Methods: Participants (n=34, undergraduate and graduate students) completed mood and social interest surveys, and physiological measures (blood pressure and heart rate) were recorded before and after a 45-minute Adlerian-based group drumming session. PCA was performed on the derived dataset, which included mood change scores, biomarker deltas, engagement metrics, age, and prior music experience. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U were used for inter-group and pairwise analysis, respectively, and Cohen's test was used to assess the effect size of differences in principal components.
Results: The resulting principal component (PC1) captured a reactivity profile based on high loadings from variables "feeling clumsy," post-session duration, age, academic classification, and baseline self-concept. Younger participants (≤ 20 years) and those with prior music training tended to have higher PC1 scores (higher reactivity to drumming intervention) (p = 0.027). When comparing academic status, first- and second-year students yielded higher PC1 scores than juniors, seniors, and graduate students (Cohen's d=0.65, p = 0.051). Physiological measures did not contribute to the loads of PC1.
Conclusion: PC1 captured multi-variable variation in college students' responses to a drumming intervention. Our results suggest that age, musical background, and academic status influence the depth and nature of responses to rhythmic interventions. Principal Component Analysis offers a valuable tool for identifying latent participant responses to complex psychosocial interventions among college students.
Methods: Participants (n=34, undergraduate and graduate students) completed mood and social interest surveys, and physiological measures (blood pressure and heart rate) were recorded before and after a 45-minute Adlerian-based group drumming session. PCA was performed on the derived dataset, which included mood change scores, biomarker deltas, engagement metrics, age, and prior music experience. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U were used for inter-group and pairwise analysis, respectively, and Cohen's test was used to assess the effect size of differences in principal components.
Results: The resulting principal component (PC1) captured a reactivity profile based on high loadings from variables "feeling clumsy," post-session duration, age, academic classification, and baseline self-concept. Younger participants (≤ 20 years) and those with prior music training tended to have higher PC1 scores (higher reactivity to drumming intervention) (p = 0.027). When comparing academic status, first- and second-year students yielded higher PC1 scores than juniors, seniors, and graduate students (Cohen's d=0.65, p = 0.051). Physiological measures did not contribute to the loads of PC1.
Conclusion: PC1 captured multi-variable variation in college students' responses to a drumming intervention. Our results suggest that age, musical background, and academic status influence the depth and nature of responses to rhythmic interventions. Principal Component Analysis offers a valuable tool for identifying latent participant responses to complex psychosocial interventions among college students.
| Original language | American English |
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| State | Published - May 2025 |
| Event | North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP) Annual Conference: Connection, Community, and Contribution - Doubletree Hotel, Portland, United States Duration: May 29 2025 → Jun 1 2025 Conference number: 73rd |
Conference
| Conference | North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP) Annual Conference |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | NASAP25 |
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Portland |
| Period | 5/29/25 → 6/1/25 |