Art and Music in Reducing COVID-19 Stress among College Students

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the student’s life in enormous ways from shutting down of the educational institutions to remaining confined in the four-walls of the house for several months. The present qualitative study tries to understand the role of Art and Music in reducing the stress faced by the students during the pandemic. The present study comprises five open ended questions relevant to the aim of the study. The five open ended questions were completed by 20 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Thematic analysis was used to identify the following themes, namely: Stay-at-home orders, Uncertainty about the future, Impact of negative news, feeling of desolation and Art and Music: an escape. The results of the study showed that Art and Music were greatly used as a strong coping mechanism towards the situation. And also, the study delves into the integration of Art and Music into the wellness programs for college students for their betterment and providing a sense of connection, expression and creativity.