Listening to music as a stress management tool
Introduction The impact of listening to music on the stress response system has received increased attention lately. Objectives An update of the relative research. Methods Literature review. Results Listening to music seems to reduce stress by influencing both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adre...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2021-04-01
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| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821016217/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797616728497192960 |
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| author | F. Lata I. Kourtesis |
| author_facet | F. Lata I. Kourtesis |
| author_sort | F. Lata |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
The impact of listening to music on the stress response system has received increased attention lately.
Objectives
An update of the relative research.
Methods
Literature review.
Results
Listening to music seems to reduce stress by influencing both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomous nervous system. Most studies, mainly conducted in healthy adults, show a decrease both in cortisol levels (a well-known stress-biomarker) and in sympathetic activity (reduction in heart rate frequency and blood pressure). Compositional elements of music such as melody, rhythm, tonality and frequency seem to influence individual relaxation responses. Most studies used classical music, nonetheless, the abovementioned effects were noticed irrespective of music genre. High-frequency music seems to have a greater role in stress-relief: 528 Hz frequency music apparently lowers cortisol and increases oxytocin (a modulator of stress response and social bonding) levels. A decrease in perceived anxiety and the induction of a positive mood state -particularly when relaxation was affirmed as the purpose of music listening- has been noticed using appropriate scales. Regarding particular settings, perioperative music may attenuate the neuroendocrine stress response caused by the surgery procedure. Music interventions in obstetric patients as well as in cardiovascular and cancer patients have led to similar findings. Finally, music appears to beneficially affect stress among patients with PSTD, fibromyalgia and depression.
Conclusions
The stress-relieving effect of music listening seems promising in clinical settings. The heterogeneity of the studies’ sample and the “administration” of different music intervention “schemes” are among the main limitations of the current research.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:45:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-904c6631cc8941849d2d6ffefcd7de98 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:45:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-904c6631cc8941849d2d6ffefcd7de982023-11-17T05:07:48ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852021-04-0164S609S60910.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1621Listening to music as a stress management toolF. Lata0I. Kourtesis1Department of Adult Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital of Athens “Dafni”, ATHENS, GreeceDepartment of Adult Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital of Athens “Dafni”, ATHENS, Greece Introduction The impact of listening to music on the stress response system has received increased attention lately. Objectives An update of the relative research. Methods Literature review. Results Listening to music seems to reduce stress by influencing both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomous nervous system. Most studies, mainly conducted in healthy adults, show a decrease both in cortisol levels (a well-known stress-biomarker) and in sympathetic activity (reduction in heart rate frequency and blood pressure). Compositional elements of music such as melody, rhythm, tonality and frequency seem to influence individual relaxation responses. Most studies used classical music, nonetheless, the abovementioned effects were noticed irrespective of music genre. High-frequency music seems to have a greater role in stress-relief: 528 Hz frequency music apparently lowers cortisol and increases oxytocin (a modulator of stress response and social bonding) levels. A decrease in perceived anxiety and the induction of a positive mood state -particularly when relaxation was affirmed as the purpose of music listening- has been noticed using appropriate scales. Regarding particular settings, perioperative music may attenuate the neuroendocrine stress response caused by the surgery procedure. Music interventions in obstetric patients as well as in cardiovascular and cancer patients have led to similar findings. Finally, music appears to beneficially affect stress among patients with PSTD, fibromyalgia and depression. Conclusions The stress-relieving effect of music listening seems promising in clinical settings. The heterogeneity of the studies’ sample and the “administration” of different music intervention “schemes” are among the main limitations of the current research. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821016217/type/journal_articlemusic listeningstress management |
| spellingShingle | F. Lata I. Kourtesis Listening to music as a stress management tool European Psychiatry music listening stress management |
| title | Listening to music as a stress management tool |
| title_full | Listening to music as a stress management tool |
| title_fullStr | Listening to music as a stress management tool |
| title_full_unstemmed | Listening to music as a stress management tool |
| title_short | Listening to music as a stress management tool |
| title_sort | listening to music as a stress management tool |
| topic | music listening stress management |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821016217/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT flata listeningtomusicasastressmanagementtool AT ikourtesis listeningtomusicasastressmanagementtool |