The Health Benefits of Music
Music is a wondrous art that has captivated us since the dawn of humankind. Ancient philosopher, Plato, is known to have said that music gives soul to the universe and charm to everything we experience around us.[1] Modern society may think of music similarly when it comes to music-based pop culture. According to a study by Nielson Music, Americans spend over 32 hours listening to music within a week.[2] One may wonder, though, how much music-listening is connected solely to entertainment. Listed below are a few of the benefits of music aside from personal enjoyment:
1.) Music can tone down your stress
In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, researchers sought to test whether or not music could help freshman college students manage COVID-related stress. Choosing 402 students from a university located in Queensland, Australia (a mix of domestic and international), the researchers measured how music effected the student’s stress compared to other coping strategies. Music was found to be just as effective as other methods of coping. And while international students tended to have higher COVID-related stress levels compared to domestic students, music helped both groups cope equally. Interestingly, the songs chosen by the students were found to be somewhat negative in nature. The researchers noted the possibility that music may work best as a coping mechanism when it aligns with how listeners feel, thus helping them to better process their emotions.[3]
2.) Music can help soothe your pain
Did you know music can help with pain management? In a paper published in the journal Enfermeria Intensiva, researchers looked into the effects of music on both the pain and anxiety of polytraumatized patients. Of the 60 patients selected, 30 were divided into a control group, and 30 others into an intervention group. While three different measurements were applied to both groups, the intervention group was the only one to receive a thirty-minute music therapy session. Within the intervention group, not only did the anxiety levels of the patients drop, but their pain levels had dropped as well.[4]
3.) Music can strengthen your ability to learn a new language
In an experiment published in Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts, researchers randomly selected 80 out of 160 Spanish-speaking kindergarten students to see if music had an effect on speaking and reading skills in English. These students were then divided into four groups of 20, each under their own teacher. Out of the four teachers, half of them introduced music into their lessons while the other half taught without using music. After two years of teaching, results showed that the student groups who learnt through music-infused instruction had higher speaking and reading scores compared to the other students. [5]
Here at EPIC, we are passionate about the power of music and how it enhances the experiences of our guests. Every session with our therapists caters to the soundscapes guests choose for themselves. We look forward to creating a unique healing space for you during your next visit with us.
Sources:
1. History. (2019, August 23). Plato. History. Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/plato
2. McIntyre, H. (2017, November 9). Americans are spending more time listening to music than ever before. Forbes. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2017/11/09/americans-are-spending-more-time-listening-to-music-than-ever-before/?sh=5c9a74bd2f7f
3. Vidas, D., Larwood, J. L., Nelson, N. L., & Dingle, G. A. (2021). Music Listening as a Strategy for Managing COVID-19 Stress in First-Year University Students. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 647065.
4. Contreras-Molina M, Rueda-Núñez A, Pérez-Collado ML, García-Maestro A. (2021). Effect of music therapy on anxiety and pain in the critical polytraumatised patient. Enferm Intensiva; 32(2):79-87.
5. Fisher, D. (2001). Early Language Learning With and Without Music. Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts, 42 (1).