The Surprising Psychological Benefits Of Music
Increased dopamine levels help relieve feelings of anxiety and depression. Another study conducted in 2013 found that listening to music not only helped reduce children’s pain and anxiety at Britain’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, but also helped reduce stress regardless of social factors. It can boost memory, build endurance of tasks, relieve your mood, reduce anxiety and depression, prevent fatigue, improve your pain response, and help you exercise more effectively. To find a board-certified music therapist near you, check out this registry. However, there is conflicting evidence as to whether listening to music has an effect on your body’s physiological stress response.
In a meta-analysis, researchers found that music therapy improved scores on depression assessment scales. The scales include self-assessed and physician-rated scales, which measure symptoms of depression. Music is a cost-effective treatment for depression and it is also self-administered by patients. In one study, compared to muscle relaxation or no relaxation method, musical relaxation improved sleep quality and depression symptoms in people with PTSD.
Some studies even show that music can reduce the pain of some chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis. It increases platelet production, stimulates lymphocytes and cellular protection against certain diseases. In addition, listening to music can lower cortisol levels, which can lead to a decrease in the immune response. Scientists have seen that music can lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone responsible for weakening our immune system.
Future studies should examine whether active performance or passive listening yield better results. Finally, the authors propose a framework for future research with questions such as are the beneficial effects of music due to distraction, mood induction, feelings of bonding/social support, or other factors? What are the different effects, if any, of playing versus listening to music? Are some people more likely to experience positive effects of music than others? If so, what individual differences (e.g. personality traits, genetic or biological factors) contribute to the effectiveness of musical interventions? What is the role of oxytocin, “the drug of love” in mediating the musical experience?
Regardless of the type of music you like, listening to it causes the production of endorphins in the brain, and these improve vascular health. It has also been proven that patients who have undergone heart surgery can reduce their levels of anxiety and pain thanks to music. This is because listening to music increases the production of nitric Mixes DJ oxide, a substance that causes blood vessels to dilate and thus improve circulation. In general, the positive effects that music can have on health are usually due to its anxiolytic, analgesic and stress-reducing properties. Such benefits are, of course, very beneficial in the treatment of a wide range of diseases and conditions.
Participants who listened to classical music for 45 minutes had significantly improved sleep quality. In a study of 200 patients with cataract surgery, meditation music helped reduce stress. The group that listened to music before the surgery reported pleasant sensations and relaxing experiences. The main limitation of this study was that there were no reliable indicators of stress measurement, such as stress hormone levels.
Based on studies that implemented at least one of the three categories of musical intervention listed above, they found that these interventions can help reduce pain and anxiety during childbirth, as well as symptoms of postpartum depression. In a more recent study, caregivers and dementia patients randomly received 10 weeks of singing training, 10 weeks of music listening training, or none at all. Tests then showed that singing and listening to music improved mood, orientation and memory and, to a lesser extent, attention and executive functioning, as well as other benefits. Studies like this have encouraged a movement to incorporate music into patient care for dementia patients, promoted in part by organizations such as Music and Memory. The neurological range of music, and its historical role in healing and cultural rituals, has led researchers to think about ways in which music can improve our health and well-being. In particular, researchers have looked for applications in healthcare, for example, helping patients during recovery after surgery or improving outcomes for people with Alzheimer’s disease.
This popular and historical practice of health psychology uses the physical, emotional, mental, aesthetic, and spiritual facets of music to help people improve their overall health. When children and adolescents are able to express themselves creatively through music therapy, they can release negative feelings and emotions in an effective and productive way. They can increase your stress and even contribute to feelings of anxiety.
This means that one child can find success by learning a new instrument, while others can enjoy writing songs, singing or just listening to music. Children are especially interested in music therapy because it is not only fun for them, but also provides mental and physical relief. In particular, music was found to improve the function of the body’s immune system and reduce stress levels.
Their study compared the benefits of music to those of meditation, a practice that is in vogue because of its mental health benefits. It found that both practices were linked to significant improvements in mood and sleep quality. “Both meditation and listening to music are potentially powerful tools for improving overall health and well-being,” Says Innes. If the idea of listening to music seems much more practical to you than meditating, these findings are great news. Music can improve mood, reduce pain and anxiety, and facilitate opportunities for emotional expression. Research suggests that music can benefit our physical and mental health in many ways.