Digital music engagement for healthy ageing: Theoretical perspectives and application

Introduction. The global trend of population ageing highlights an urgent need to support the emotional well-being of older adults. With the growing integration of digital technologies into their daily lives, new opportunities are emerging to enhance well-being through accessible and engaging platforms. Music is increasingly recognised as a powerful medium that supports multiple dimensions of healthy ageing, including cognitive function, emotional resilience, and physical health. While music therapy has demonstrated significant benefits, the specific factors that enable older adults to engage effectively with music in digital environments remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to identify and organise key determinants influencing digital music engagement among older adults.
Method. A three-phase mixed-methods research design was employed. Phase one involved qualitative interviews with older adults to explore their music-related motivations, preferences, and usage patterns. In phase two, music therapists were interviewed to provide expert insights and assess the feasibility of adapting music engagement to digital formats. Findings from these phases informed the development of an online survey, which was implemented in phase three to assess the validity and relevance of proposed determinants among a sample of music therapists.
Results. A total of 74 potential determinants of digital music engagement were identified, of which 70 met the inclusion threshold (Content Validity Index, CVI ≥ 0.7). These determinants were grouped into ten thematic categories: music preferences, personalised selection, genre affinity, purposes of engagement, types of musical activities, music use beyond structured interventions, support for participation, social interaction, digital infrastructure, and perceived risks or limitations.
Conclusions. The proposed framework provides a theory-informed foundation for designing digital music interventions tailored to older adults. It has practical relevance across arts therapies and psychological support settings employing creative methods. Moreover, it offers a valuable tool for developers of digital health technologies aimed at promoting healthy ageing. Future research with international expert samples is recommended to strengthen the framework’s generalisability and cultural adaptability.