Effects of preferred relaxing music after acute stress exposure: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

In daily contexts, coping with stressful events involves a great level of personal resources to recover baseline conditions efficiently, a process called stress recovery. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of an intervention based on preferred relaxing music on the recovery after stress exposure. We also analyzed the effect of gender on stress recovery. Fifty-eight undergraduates underwent a paradigm of laboratory-based stress induction and were randomly assigned to either the control or the experimental group. The recovery period included either silent resting (control group) or listening to their preferred music to become relaxed (experimental group) for 15 minutes. Cardiovascular measures and self-reported emotional states were monitored across the stress induction and recovery stages. Participants in the experimental group exhibited higher levels of heart-derived high frequency power, and greater sample entropy in the recovery period. They also showed lower levels of self-reported states of anxiety, depression, and negative affect, as well as greater levels of positive affect. Gender-related differences were also found during recovery for both cardiovascular and self-reported measures. To conclude, interventions based on preferred relaxing music allow promotion of a healthier recovery and improve affective state after acute stress exposure considering differential outcomes according to gender.

The Impact of Different Sounds on Stress Level in the Context of EEG, Cardiac Measures and Subjective Stress Level: A Pilot Study

“…Stress nowadays is very common, so much so that it has become one of the major problems of today’s society [ 1 ]. The phenomenon of chronic stress is affecting more people every year [ 2 ]. Brain–computer interface technology can be a helpful tool in the fight against stress.…”

“…One of the most common bases for this state, the so-called stressors, are moments which require acting under pressure and are observed primarily in interpersonal contacts, the workplace and situations associated with finances [ 1 ]. Therefore, stress is generated through animbalance between environmental requirements and an individual’s perception of their skills which are insufficient to satisfy those requirements [ 2 , 4 ].…”

Investigating Neurofeedback Protocols for Stress Mitigation: A Comparative Analysis of Different Stimulus Contents

“…This can be achieved by meeting thresholds on peak signal values at Fp1 and Fp2. The study participants were allowed to bring music files of their own choice [60]. The trigger for audio was the play and pause.…”

“…The trigger for audio was the play and pause. In the case of video, the study participants were given the freedom to bring video files of their own choice [60]. During the neurofeedback session, the triggers for the video was also play and pause.…”

Barriers and facilitators to implementing playlists as a novel personalised music intervention in public healthcare settings in New South Wales, Australia

“…Personalised music is defined as: 'music that has been integrated into a person's life and is based on personal preference' (Gerdner 2012). Several studies have illustrated the therapeutic benefits of personalised music, including a reduction in agitation, stress responses and anxiety, and improved mood and patient and staff engagement (Sung et al 2010;Martin et al 2016;Park et al 2016;de la Torre-Luque et al 2017). A Cochrane systematic review published in 2017 reported that 17 randomised control trials found music-based interventions for people living with dementia had little or no effect on improving emotional wellbeing, behavioural problems or cognitive abilities.…”