Mental health and music engagement: review, framework, and guidelines for future studies

Abstract

Is engaging with music good for your mental health? This question has long been the topic of empirical clinical and nonclinical investigations, with studies indicating positive associations between music engagement and quality of life, reduced depression or anxiety symptoms, and less frequent substance use. However, many earlier investigations were limited by small populations and methodological limitations, and it has also been suggested that aspects of music engagement may even be associated with worse mental health outcomes. The purpose of this scoping review is first to summarize the existing state of music engagement and mental health studies, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. We focus on broad domains of mental health diagnoses including internalizing psychopathology (e.g., depression and anxiety symptoms and diagnoses), externalizing psychopathology (e.g., substance use), and thought disorders (e.g., schizophrenia). Second, we propose a theoretical model to inform future work that describes the importance of simultaneously considering music-mental health associations at the levels of (1) correlated genetic and/or environmental influences vs. (bi)directional associations, (2) interactions with genetic risk factors, (3) treatment efficacy, and (4) mediation through brain structure and function. Finally, we describe how recent advances in large-scale data collection, including genetic, neuroimaging, and electronic health record studies, allow for a more rigorous examination of these associations that can also elucidate their neurobiological substrates.

Impact of Music Education on Mental Health of Higher Education Students: Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence

“…According to a study of 1,000 Australian adults, those who interacted with music, such as singing or dancing with others or attending concerts, reported greater well-being than those who engaged in the same experiences alone or did not engage. As a result, this study provides preliminary evidence that music participation is associated with improved general mental health outcomes in both children and adults, with some variation in results depending on the type of music participation ( Gustavson et al, 2021 ).…”

Music and neuroscience research for mental health, cognition, and development: Ways forward

“…Also, researchers have found evidence of far-transfer effects related to “therapeutic” traits, or biological and cognitive paths of development (Miendlarzewska and Trost, 2013 ; Carter and Panisch, 2020 ). Typically, this means that a wide range of complex cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and psychophysiological responses can be adjusted through music and, as a result, the mental health of patients with various psychiatric disorders can be improved (Lin et al, 2011 ; Clift, 2012 ; Gustavson et al, 2021 ). Indeed, Gustavson et al ( 2021 ) have claimed that therapies with active music participation, and structured and multiple sessions have significant positive effects on mood disorders (e.g., depression).…”

“…Typically, this means that a wide range of complex cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and psychophysiological responses can be adjusted through music and, as a result, the mental health of patients with various psychiatric disorders can be improved (Lin et al, 2011 ; Clift, 2012 ; Gustavson et al, 2021 ). Indeed, Gustavson et al ( 2021 ) have claimed that therapies with active music participation, and structured and multiple sessions have significant positive effects on mood disorders (e.g., depression). Furthermore, Sanfilippo et al ( 2021 ) have supported that passive music listening reduces anxiety and pain during labor, anxiety symptoms during pregnancy, and postnatal depression.…”

“…On the contrary, evidence of systematic reviews or meta-analyses has shown a pessimistic point of view, as described by few, concerning the music's usage and possible direct link to neuroplasticity. According to this literature, there is limited understanding and no clear evidence of how music, directly and indirectly, contributes to mental health (Lin et al, 2011 ; Gustavson et al, 2021 ). Also, the potential causational role of music in cognitive or academic development is very weak (Schellenberg, 2020 ) and conclusions of causation are precluded (Swaminathan and Schellenberg, 2018 ).…”

“…Developmental neuroscience has studied the processing and perception of music in the fetal and infant brain and its selective role in environmental enrichment and socioemotional development (Papatzikis and Papatziki, 2016 ; Chorna et al, 2019 ; Arrasmith, 2020 ; Papatzikis et al, 2021 ). Mental health research suggests the potential benefits of music in alleviating symptoms in a variety of neurological and affective disorders ranging from depression and schizophrenia to dementia (Van de Winckel et al, 2004 ; Talwar et al, 2006 ; Lin et al, 2011 ; Gustavson et al, 2021 ). Cognitive studies of attention have even observed executive system efficiency differences when comparing the attentional network test (ANT) scores of the alerting and orienting networks of musicians and non-musicians (Medina and Barraza, 2019 ).…”