Effects of individual music playing and music listening on acute-stress recovery

(2013). Effects of individual music playing and music listening on acute-stress recovery. Canadian Journal of Music Therapy, 19(1), 23-46.

Authors:
Ilie, G. & Rehana, R. – University of Toronto

Abstract:
With stress in modern life becoming such an epidemic, the goal of identifying behavioural interventions that reduce the intensity of acute-stress responses has never been more important. Using a randomized experimental design, we examined whether playing a simple, familiar melody on the iPhone for 10 minutes would facilitate stress recovery in a group of undergraduate students who were non-musicians. We instructed 54 participants to play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” using the Smule Ocarina app on the iPhone which involved blowing into the microphone of the iPhone and placing fingers on the screen to produce different notes. One week after receiving instruction, participants were randomly assigned to either an acute-stress induction procedure or a no-stress control group. The acute-stress group exhibited elevations in levels of cortisol as well as negative mood and arousal (as measured by two self-report measures of mood and arousal), compared to the no-stress group. Participants in both groups were subsequently randomly assigned to one of three 10-minute-long activities: playing or listening to “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” on the iPhone Ocarina or sitting in silence. Participants who had undergone the stress-inducing procedure and who played or listened to the ocarina during the stress-recovery period showed significant decreases in cortisol levels compared to those who sat in silence. However, as expected, participants in the no-stress group who played the iPhone Ocarina showed significant increases in cortisol levels relative to participants who listened to it or sat in silence. The implications associated with using digital technology in music therapy for acute-stress interventions are discussed.

Weblink:
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