Summary: Music Characteristics Effect on Stress Recovery
Research conducted at Radboud University indicates that specific features of music have a significant role in stress recovery, regardless of the song’s genre. The study included 470 participants and pinpointed shared characteristics in songs deemed effective for stress relief.
Participants who listened to music with these specific traits were found to recover more quickly from stress than those who listened to randomly composed musical notes, emphasizing the importance of audio characteristics in music-based therapeutic interventions.
Key Findings
- Mellow tunes in major modulation or energetic tracks in minor modulation are common in stress-relieving songs.
- Participants who listened to music characterized by these specific features demonstrated more rapid recovery from stress.
- The findings, according to Adiasto’s research, imply the deeply personal nature of music for ideal stress relief, and the need for researchers to explore audio characteristics over genres.
Songs like “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Baby One More Time,” amongst others, may help in stress recovery. The research found that their effectiveness is not about the genre but the shared musical traits in the songs.
Musical Similarities and Stress Recovery
The research team analyzed a list of 1,296 songs based on questionnaires filled out by the participants. The chosen songs ranged from hardstyle to classical to soundtracks to ambient music, dismantling the commonly held belief that classical music is the go-to for stress relief. They found that stress-relieving songs usually fall under two categories: Mellow songs in major modes such as “Memories” by Maroon 5 or energetic tracks in minor mode like “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran. These songs typically feature a moderate tempo in a 4/4 time signature and are often composed in the key of E.
The Experimental Process and Stress Recovery
In a subsequent experiment involving 200 participants exposed to a stressful task, those who listened to the identified types of music, whether researcher-selected or self-selected, showed faster recovery from stress than those who listened to random musical notes. This further supported the inference that these particular types of music lead to cognitive distraction, aiding faster recovery from stress.
Implications of the Research
While this research shows how listening to specific types of music can aid stress recovery, it also underlines the personal nature of music and cautions against generalized recommendations. A song not fitting into the specified categories might still be beneficial to an individual due to personal associations. This study underscores the need for music researchers to move beyond genre classifications and focus more on audio traits and characteristics.
About this Research
Author: Krisna Adiasto
Source: Radboud University
Contact: Krisna Adiasto – Radboud University
Image: This image is credited to Neuroscience News
Personal Reflection as a Psychiatrist:
From a psychiatrist’s perspective, this research presents a new dimension to the implementation of music therapy in stress management. By focusing on specific music traits rather than just genres, we could potentially tailor music therapy more effectively to individual patient needs, thereby enhancing therapeutic results. The caveat, however, lies in the deeply personal nature of music, meaning one-size-fits-all solutions are unlikely. Nonetheless, this study is a significant step towards fostering a more nuanced understanding of musical therapy.
Dr Elizabeth Johnson, MD, Cure of Mind