Caitlyn Krater, a former music therapist, worked with Indiana University School of Nursing professor Sheri Robb on Active Music Engagement research trials. Photo courtesy of Caitlin Krater
Active Music Engagement, developed for children ages 3 to 8, includes music-play sessions with a credentialed music therapist. The goal is to not only counteract the stress of cancer treatment for the pediatric patients but to reduce the interrelated distress experienced by their parents. It also gives them tools they can use at home.
While the program is currently focused on pediatric cancer patients, Robb is working to expand the therapy to children with other chronic health conditions.
Helping the whole family
In the relatively young field of clinical music therapy, Robb's research stands out. Her team's studies show that a parent's perception of their child's health is an important factor affecting the child's distress and parent's stress symptoms. With Active Music Engagement intervention, Robb found that the parent's perceptions of their child's health changed and significantly reduced the traumatic stress symptoms for highly distressed and under-resourced parents.
Sheri Robb. Photo courtesy of Tim Schumm
In talking with parents, Robb and her team confirmed that repeated opportunities to experience music play with their child restored opportunities for choice and control, and a sense of normalcy. Parents said the experience allowed them to see well aspects of their child again, and to reframe the cancer experience as being part of their life and not something that has to take over all aspects of their life.
Caitlin Krater, a postdoctoral fellow at IU Indianapolis and former music therapist at IU Health who collaborated on these research trials, has witnessed firsthand how this intervention benefits children.
"In my work, I have seen how powerful this intervention can be, especially for hospitalized children who so often have little choice or control in their daily lives," Krater said. "Through active music-making, children are offered a space to take the lead, explore and express themselves on their own terms. What begins as simple play often grows into something much deeper: moments of bravery, self-discovery and joy."
Music therapists also provide supportive education on how to use music play to manage symptoms and promote a sense of normalcy for the child and family between therapist visits and at home.
During Active Music Engagement sessions, the music therapist provides children and parents opportunities to experience competence, autonomy and meaningful interactions through music play activities, which leads to active engagement and positive forms of coping.
"Children with blood disorders such as sickle cell disease or cancer and their families face intense physical and emotional challenges throughout treatment," said Seethal Jacob, an associate professor of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine and co-investigator of the research studies. "This intervention offers a non-pharmacologic approach to help children manage symptoms and reduce stress through music. It also creates meaningful opportunities for caregivers to actively support their child's well-being, fostering connection and empowerment during what can be a stressful time."
Advancing toward a standard of care
Robb's goal is to ensure that music therapy becomes a standard of care in pediatric hospitals and reaches the families who need it most. To do so, she has partnered with the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office to extend the music intervention to children with other chronic health conditions.
Currently, Robb is developing a large-scale implementation study to increase patient access to music therapy and to improve patient care. She has also developed other inventions to help adolescents identify and express what is important to them during treatment while promoting active coping strategies to manage stress.
"Facing cancer treatment is incredibly hard for both young children and their parents; their stress is deeply connected," Robb said. "What is special about our Active Music Engagement program is that it uses musical play to help both parents and children feel better at the same time. It has been shown to significantly reduce traumatic stress symptoms in parents, while also reducing anxiety and fatigue and improving mood in both children and parents."
