THE EFFECT OF MUSIC THERAPY ON SOCIAL ABILITIES IN MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN AT SLB NEGERI BUDI UTAMA CIREBO CITY

Mental Retardation (RM) is a below average intellectual function with a lack of adaptive
behavioral skills, as well as social skills towards life. RM is a state of mental development
disorder that occurs due to skill problems during development, thus affecting cognitive,
motor and social abilities.
This study used a quantitative method with a Quasi-Experiment one group design
approach. The population is students of class IV, V and VI SLB Negeri Budi Utama Cirebon
City, totaling 24 people and sampling using total sampling of 24 people. The instrument
used is a social ability questionnaire and data analysis using simple linear regression test.
The results of univariate analysis before music therapy was performed, the category of
social skills was quite good, there were 20 respondents (83%) and the category of good
social skills was 4 respondents (17%). While the results of the analysis after the provision
of music therapy, namely the category of social skills is quite good 1 respondent (4%) and
the category of social skills is good 23 respondents (96%). The results of bivariate analysis
show that the significant value of 0.007 is smaller than 0.05 (0.007 <0.05), so Ho is rejected
and Ha is accepted. This means that there is a significant influence between music therapy
on social skills in mentally retarded children.
The conclusion of this research is that there is an influence on the social abilities of
children with mental retardation at SLB Negeri Budi Utama Cirebon City before an after
music therapy. The suggestion in this research is that teachers an parents/guardians pay
more attention to the development of the social abilities of children with metal retardation
by implementing non-pharmacological therapy regularly.
Keywords: Music Therapy, Social Skills, Mentally Retarded Children