Music has been used for centuries to evoke emotions, bring people together, and even aid healing. But, just what is it about music that has such a profound effect on our mood and wellness? Is the impact of music universal, or does it vary depending on region or culture? Here, we’ll explore the growing body of research on how music affects wellness, and how Myndstream is using music to help individuals and businesses improve their overall wellbeing.
The Soundtrack of Wellness: What the Research Tells Us
The power of music on our health and wellbeing has been extensively studied, with numerous research findings highlighting the positive benefits of listening to (and playing) music. At a fundamental level, for example, research tells us that listening to music can have a calming and relaxing effect on our bodies, by reducing cortisol levels (the human stress hormone) and lowering our heart rate.
Moreover, a large-scale review of 400 studies found that playing and listening to music has a positive impact on our immune system, reducing stress levels, and promoting social bonding. Music has also been found to alleviate anxiety, lower blood pressure, relieve pain, and noticeably improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory; it’s quite amazing how the simple act of listening to music can have such a profound effect on our overall wellbeing.
Neuroscientists have even discovered that listening to music stimulates the release of good old dopamine, a neurotransmitter in our brain’s reward centres that helps to churn out positive emotions. A boost in dopamine can elicit feelings of pleasure and even elation, so there’s no wonder we routinely use music as a method for cheering up and more.
Pivotal research findings in relation to the immense potential that music has for improving mental (and therefore physical) wellness has recently sprung from a review of 26 studies; these studies all demonstrate that music affects mental health in a positive way, in a similar way that exercise and weight loss can.
Exploring the Global Use of Music for Wellness
So, the evidence clearly demonstrates the positive effects that music can have on wellness and for mental health patients, but is this a universal truth, and how do preferences and practices differ across the world?
The short answer is, yes, it’s certainly universal, while specific preferences and practices can and do differ. In Japan, for example, listening to traditional Japanese music has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood, while in India, classical Indian music is widely used as a form of music therapy for mental health disorders. In China, the music commonly used to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety is – you guessed it – traditional Chinese music; the Chinese believe that music helps to balance the flow of energy in the body, thus promoting relaxation and healing. Meanwhile, throughout Europe, classical relaxing music is the typical go-to for improving sleep quality and keeping anxiety at bay. That said, it’s important to note that these are generalisations and all individuals will have individual preferences to music taste, whether it’s upbeat music, slow music, sad music, background music, intense music or even heavy metal music. Musical preferences will also naturally vary regardless of location, religion or culture. One thing is for sure, though – music as an intentional therapy is being radically reinvented, emerging as one of the hottest trends in wellness, and for good reason.
