The Role of Music in Strengthening Parent–Child Bonds | RISE Research

This research explores how shared musical experiences influence the emotional bond between parents and children, with a particular focus on communication, emotional synchrony, and perceived closeness. Grounded in attachment theory and developmental psychology, the study examines music as a relational tool that may support bonding beyond infancy and within everyday, non-clinical settings. By situating music within the broader framework of early emotional development and caregiving relationships, the research emphasizes how shared musical engagement may contribute to secure attachment and emotional regulation across childhood.

Using a mixed-methods, cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 47 parents through Likert-scale items and open-ended questions. Quantitative analysis assessed correlations between frequency of shared musical experiences and indicators of bond strength such as emotional closeness, communication, and responsiveness. Qualitative thematic analysis further explored how parents perceive music as shaping interaction quality. While frequency of musical engagement did not show a strong direct correlation with bond strength, significant positive relationships were found between shared musical activity and emotional synchrony, responsiveness, and communication. These findings suggest that the quality of shared musical moments may matter more than frequency alone.

The study highlights that music facilitates co-regulation, emotional attunement, and mutual responsiveness between parent and child, particularly in casual, everyday settings such as home or travel. Shared musical moments often created opportunities for playfulness, attention, and emotional connection, reinforcing relational closeness. Overall, the research contributes to existing literature by demonstrating that music serves as a powerful relational medium, enhancing emotional synchrony and interaction even outside formal therapeutic contexts, and supports its potential role in strengthening parent–child bonds across developmental stages.