By Low Win Li
‘Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.’[1]
Regardless of language or style, music has undeniably reached the masses. Music is a source of comfort to many. Big Hit Entertainment, the company behind super boyband BTS, is committed to their motto of providing “music and artist for healing”.
This effect brings up the question: how exactly does music ‘heals’ or benefits our mental health?
A study was conducted to determine the reasons people listen to music[2]. Participants also rated music’s ability to help them have a better mood and contributing towards self-awareness as two of the most important functions of music.
Scientifically, a study has suggested that music releases dopamine in the brain[3]. In layman terms, it contributes to a feel-good state in response. Findings showed that the levels of dopamine increased up to 9% higher when volunteers were listening to music they enjoyed. The authors of the report concluded that their study showed the significance of humans obtaining pleasure from music – an abstract reward – that is comparable with the pleasure obtained from more basic biological stimuli.
Reachout.com[4] shared that music is able to contribute to better focus, expression, improving social connection, creativity, relaxation, and motivation.
Of course, this would be dependent on the type of music that one is listening to.
Playing more upbeat music led to improvements in processing speed, while both upbeat and downbeat music aided one’s memory.[5] A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research[6], found that people leaned towards sad music when they are experiencing deep interpersonal loss. The authors of that study suggested that sad music provides a substitute for the emptiness. Music acted like an empathic friend — someone who truly understands what you are going through.
Joanne Loewy, an associate professor and director of the Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine, shared, “Silence can be better than random listening”[7]. Along with inducing stress, the ‘wrong’ music can promote rumination or other unhelpful mental states. One 2015 study[8] from Finland found that music can pack on negative emotions—like anger, aggression or sadness—much the same way it can counteract these feelings.
An example of how music is able to empower is the Me2/Orchestra, a non-profit organisation with volunteer musicians. The name came about from Mr.Braunstein, who noticed that other musicians responded with “me too” when he shared about his mental health diagnosis. Music isn’t his only medicine, but its healing power is potent. At each performance, some of the musicians would share about their mental illness and take questions from the audience.[9] This process not only empowers the musicians themselves, but it also empowers their audience.
Preliminary evidence suggested that music is able to alter a person’s threshold for enduring pain. It may also increase immune system functions, but there’s stronger evidence that music can affect mood, heart rate and respiration rate.[10] Scientific research has shown that music helps to fight depression[11], lower blood pressure[12] and reduce pain[13]. VeryWellMind[14] shared about a study[15] that was conducted with fibromyalgia patients. In this study, patients with fibromyalgia were assigned to either an experimental group that listened to music once a day for 4 weeks, or a control group that received no treatment. At the end of the fixed time period, it was discovered that those who were given access to music experienced a significant reduction of pain and depression.
Impact of Music Therapy
Ms Molly Warren of Olive Branch Therapeutic Services shared on the 4 major interventions involved in music therapy[16], which includes lyric analysis, improvisation music playing, active music listening and song-writing. These interventions contribute towards processing and expressing emotions, thoughts and experiences better. It also contributes to regulating one’s mood.
Queen’s University researchers partnered with the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust, where 251 children and young people with emotional, developmental, and behavioral problems were recruited for a study[17]. The group who received musical therapy showed an improvement in their self-esteem, communication and interactive skills, and a reduction of depressive symptoms compared to those who only received usual care. After a follow-up, it was affirmed the positive result of music therapy had long-term effects.
Overall, music is a potential treatment option to improve depression symptoms and quality of life across many age groups.[18] Music not only caters to the young, but it also enhances cognitive abilities that are crucial for elderly adults.[19]
Music improving mental health – is it proven?
By way of summary, people tend to listen to music for three major reasons: music offers comfort, contributes to a greater energy and mood, as well as social importance.[20]
Using music to influence mood is likely to continue to be a popular strategy for many people, both in their everyday life and through music therapy or other therapeutic contexts. However, the relationship between music listening and having an improved mood are complex and need to be individually identified and negotiated. Though promoting awareness of the power of music to enhance mood is helpful, we should be prepared for possible changes and consequences in all directions when each person engages in their preferred music.[21]
What about the mental health of our musicians and artists?
We talk about how much music has helped us, but it is no secret that that the people who gifted us this music suffer too. Maintaining both the physical and mental health of our artists and other music professionals is dire.
In recent times, more and more artists have been open with their mental health. Though their openness definitely provides a comfort to their fanbase, the people behind these artists (their label, management, touring companies) must take up the responsibility to support the well-being of their artists.
Sony Music UK became the first music company to partner with a mental health charity (MIND) to raise awareness and improve wellbeing within their own workplace.[22] They made several commitments to support their staff, from offering them opportunities to take part in “mental health first aid” training, providing activities in the office such as yoga and body acceptance discussions, to hosting a “Mental Health & Music” panel discussion.[23]
As our musicians and artists gifted us with music that provides us healing, let us also understand that they too have their struggles from being in the limelight. Let us learn to better appreciate them in our own ways, whether it be sending them love or supporting their art.
[1] Quote Catalog <https://quotecatalog.com/quote/maya-angelou-music-was-my-re-EpRv2mp/>
[2] Bottiroli, Sara et al, ‘The cognitive effects of listening to background music on older adults: processing speed improves with upbeat music, while memory seems to benefit from both upbeat and downbeat music’ (Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2014, Vol. 6:284) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4197792/>
[3] Sonya McGilchrist, ‘Music ‘releases mood-enhancing chemical in the brain’’ (BBC News, 2011) <https://www.bbc.com/news/health-12135590>
[4] Reachout.com, ‘How to use music for mental health’ (Reachout.com) <https://au.reachout.com/articles/how-to-use-music-for-mental-health>
[5] Bottiroli, Sara et al, ‘The cognitive effects of listening to background music on older adults: processing speed improves with upbeat music, while memory seems to benefit from both upbeat and downbeat music’ (Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2014, Vol. 6:284) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4197792/>
[6] Lee, Chan Jean, et al, ‘Interpersonal Relationships and Preferences for Mood-Congruency in Aesthetic Experiences’ (Journal of Consumer Research, 2013, Vol. 40 No. 2, pp. 382–391)
[7] Markham Heid, ‘You Asked: Is Listening to Music Good For Your Health’ (Time, 2018) <https://time.com/5254381/listening-to-music-health-benefits/>
[8] Carlson, Emily et al., ‘Maladaptive and adaptive emotion regulation through music: a behavioral and neuroimaging study of males and females’ (Frontiers in human neuroscience, 2015, Vol. 9:466) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4549560/>
[9] Michele C. Hollow, ‘Fighting the Stigma of Mental Illness Through Music’ (The New York Times, January 2019) <https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/29/well/mind/fighting-the-stigma-of-mental-illness-through-music.html>
[10] ‘Speaking of Psychology: Music and your health’ <https://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/music-health>
[11] Leubner, Daniel, and Thilo Hinterberger, ‘Reviewing the Effectiveness of Music Interventions in Treating Depression’ (Frontiers in psychology, 2017, Vol. 8:1109) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5500733/>
[12] Chafin S, Roy M, Gerin W, Christenfeld N, ‘Music can facilitate blood pressure recovery from stress’ (2004) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15296685>
[13] Siedliecki SL, Good M, ‘Effect of music on power, pain, depression and disability’ (2006) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16722953>
[14] Kendra Cherry, ‘How Listening to Music Can Have Psychological Benefits’ (Verywell Mind, 10 December 2019) <https://www.verywellmind.com/surprising-psychological-benefits-of-music-4126866>
[15] Onieva-Zafra, Maria Dolores et al, ‘Effect of Music as Nursing Intervention for People Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia’ (Pain Management Nursing, Volume 14, Issue 2, e39-46)
[16] Molly Warren, ‘The Impact Of Music Therapy On Mental Health’ (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2016) <https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/December-2016/The-Impact-of-Music-Therapy-on-Mental-Health>
[17] Justin Caba, ‘Music Therapy For Depression: An Efficient, Cost-Effective Way To Treat Children And Teens’ (Medical Daily, 2014) <https://www.medicaldaily.com/music-therapy-depression-efficient-cost-effective-way-treat-children-and-teens-307725>
[18] Leubner, Daniel, and Thilo Hinterberger, ‘Reviewing the Effectiveness of Music Interventions in Treating Depression’ (Frontiers in psychology, 2017, Vol. 8: 1109) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5500733/>
[19] Bottiroli, Sara et al, ‘The cognitive effects of listening to background music on older adults: processing speed improves with upbeat music, while memory seems to benefit from both upbeat and downbeat music’ (Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2014, Vol. 6:284) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4197792/>
[20] Schäfer, Thomas et al, ‘The psychological functions of music listening’ (Frontiers in psychology, 2013, Vol. 4:511) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3741536/>
[21] Stewart, Joanna et al, ‘Music Use for Mood Regulation: Self-Awareness and Conscious Listening Choices in Young People With Tendencies to Depression’ (Frontiers in psychology, May 2019, Vol 10: 1199) <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6542982/>
[22] Mind, ‘Sony Music’ (Mind UK) <https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/corporate-partnerships/current-partners/sony-music/>
[23] Roisin O’Connor, ‘Music is good for our health, so why are musicians suffering so much?’ (The Independent, January 2019) <https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/music-mental-health-industry-artists-depression-anxiety-lady-gaga-zayn-demi-lovato-a8732341.html>
