Group drumming for incarcerated men may improve community reintegration: a mixed methods pilot study

Objectives Investigate a group drumming intervention in an incarcerated, halfway house population to evaluate intervention feasibility, phenomenology of participation, and potential benefits for community reintegration. Methods Twenty-eight participants were randomized to either treatment as usual or a drum group held weekly for 8 weeks. Halfway house retention rates were compared. Interviews and a focus group were conducted, coded, and thematically analyzed. Results Retention rate was significantly higher in the drum group than in the control group (d=1.0, p<0.05). Qualitative analysis elicited that group drumming (1) functions therapeutically as a method of coping with stress, (2) promotes connection through experiencing communion and building relationship amidst social isolation, and (3) provides an environment for personal growth, particularly toward re-humanization and self-empowerment. Conclusions These findings suggest significant therapeutic potential of group drumming in social, emotional, and self-development domains, with quantifiable impact on community reintegration, suggesting effective interventions toward rehabilitation and decarceration.