Investigating the Impact of Musical Soundscapes on Well-being: A Qualitative Focus Group Study Using Arts-Based Methods

This study explores the impact of musical soundscapes on well-being through a qualitative inductive thematic analysis. Utilizing focus groups and participatory arts-based methods, participants engaged with meditative soundscapes periodically over a week, sharing their responses through text, voice, and visual imagery. These multisensory responses were cross-referenced with focus group transcripts to deepen the thematic analysis. The findings reveal diverse positive outcomes, including personal, psychological, physiological, and sociocultural benefits. Nota-ble emergent themes include intersensory synchrony, embodied musical affects, stress relief, self-transcendence, communal connection, and integrated well-being. The study underscores the capacity of musical experiences, which transcend cultural boundaries, to enhance well-being across these dimensions. These preliminary results highlight the potential of cross-cultural musi-cality to foster holistic well-being, suggesting that musical soundscapes can act as a powerful medium for enhancing well-being.