Factors influencing career longevity of music therapists
Keyword
Research Subject Categories::HUMANITIES and RELIGION::Aesthetic subjects::MusicResearch Subject Categories::INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS::Caring sciences
Music therapists -- Training of
Music therapy -- Study and teaching
Music therapists -- Job stress
Career development
Burnout
Self-care
Date Published
2020-05Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This survey study examined the factors that experienced music therapists identified as important in maintaining their careers in music therapy. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into how these music therapists combat burnout and stress to remain practicing in the field for 10 years or longer. Previous studies on burnout and career longevity have focused on whether music therapists have burnout, causes or factors leading to burnout and possible shortened careers, and the length of average careers in music therapy. The survey was sent out to 3,421 board-certified music therapists who were selected for longevity in the profession, 10 years or longer. There were a total of 439 responses with 11 responses meeting the requirements for participation. The survey results indicated that time off of work, exercise, and music are the main methods of self-care utilized by experienced professionals. Respondents also indicated that low salary, self-assessed burnout, and a perception of limited job opportunities were the main factors that could have led practitioners to consider leaving the field.Collections
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