Music Performance as a Therapy for Managing Stress amongst the Academics in Nigerian Federal Universities

Abstract

The serious breakdown in health of the academics in Nigerian Federal Universities which placed them in chronic dependency on drugs has necessitated this study. The study adopted a descriptive survey approach which ascertained that music performance as therapy would be a vital tool for managing stress amongst the academic staff of the Nigerian Federal Universities. The population comprised all the lecturers from the faculties of Education and Humanities in the two Federal Universities in the South-South Zone numbering 618 but 309 lecturers formed the sample. Stratified random sampling was used to select the subjects while simple random sample was used to select the universities. Four research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The instrument for data collection was a 45 item questionnaire developed by the researchers. The instrument consists of four sections (A-D). The instrument was validated and trial-tested. The reliability coefficient was computed for the four sections viz: section A = 0.84; B = 0.81; C = 0.77; and D = 0.84 using Cronboch Alpha technique. The instrument was administered by the researchers with the help of three research assistants. The data collected were analyzed using means to answer the research questions and t-test statistics for hypothesis at 0.05 alpha level. The result showed among others that music performance is a good therapy for stress management and would consequently prolong the life span of the academics. Hence, the recommendations were that the academics should make out time to listen to and watch musical performances that make them feel comfortable so as to reduce stress, and also be encouraged to go for medical check-ups to avoid serious breakdown in health.

Key words: Music, Music Performance, Music Therapy, and Stress Management.