Next time you can’t get to the gym, maybe make some records instead: New research suggests that the positive mental health impact of singing, playing or listening to music is similar to the impact experienced with exercise or weight loss. weight. .
That’s based on a meta-analysis covering 26 previous studies and a total of 779 people. Previous research covered everything from the use gospel music as a preventive measure against heart disease to how joining a choir can help people recovering from cancer.
A growth number of studies are finding links between music and well-being. However, the level of the potential boost and exactly why it works are areas that scientists are still investigating, and that’s where this particular research may come in handy.
“Increasing evidence supports the ability of music to broadly promote well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQoL),” the researchers write in their published article.
“However, the magnitude of the positive association of music with HRQoL remains unclear, particularly in relation to established interventions, limiting the inclusion of music interventions in health care and policy.”
The 26 studies included in the new research used the widely adopted and well-regarded 36-item short-form survey (SF-36) on physical and mental health, or the shorter alternative with 12 questions (SF-12), which facilitates data collection and synthesis.
The study results were then compared with other research looking at the benefits of “medical and non-pharmaceutical interventions (eg, exercise, weight loss)” on well-being and with research in which medical treatments for health problems did not include music therapy. component.
According to the study authors, music’s boost to mental health is “within the range, though on the low end” of the same kind of impact seen in people who engage in physical exercise or weight-loss programs .
“This meta-analysis of 26 studies of music interventions provided clear, quantitative evidence of moderate quality that music interventions are associated with clinically significant changes in mental HRQoL.” researchers write.
“Furthermore, a subset of 8 studies showed that adding musical interventions to treatment as usual was associated with clinically significant changes in mental HRQoL in a variety of conditions.”
At the same time, the researchers note that there was substantial variation between individuals in the studies in how well the various music interventions worked, even if the overall picture was positive. This is not necessarily something that will work for everyone.
The researchers hope that studies like this one will encourage health professionals to prescribe some form of music therapy more often when it comes to helping patients recover from illness or maintain good mental health.
For many of us, listening to music or singing are pleasurable activities and may not feel as challenging as going out for exercise or following a diet, other reasons why they might be useful as forms of therapy.
“Future research is needed to clarify optimal music interventions and dosages for use in specific clinical and public health settings.” researchers write.
The research has been published in Open JAMA Network.
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