Piano playing reduces stress more than other creative art activities

Abstract

Few studies have been conducted on the physiological effects of creative art activities. In this study, the effects of creative art activities on human stress were investigated, and their effects were compared in 57 healthy college students (27 males and 30 females). Subjects were divided into four groups, each of which participated in 30-minute sessions of one of the following creative activities or a control activity: (1) playing the piano; (2) molding a piece of clay; (3) calligraphy (writing using a brush and ink); and (4) remaining silent (as a control activity). Cortisol levels and the State-trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I) were measured before and after each session. Postsession cortisol levels were markedly decreased for piano playing, clay molding and calligraphy, indicating a reduction in stress due to participation in creative activities; the effect of piano playing was significantly greater than clay molding and calligraphy. Post-session STAI scores decreased significantly in all groups other than the control group, indicating a reduction in anxiety induced by engaging in creative activities. The psychological and physiological stress-reducing effects of creative activity, particularly playing the piano, were demonstrated. In addition, the role of music education in school in mental health is discussed.

Can the Arts Get Under the Skin? Arts and Cortisol for Economically Disadvantaged Children

“…This result is consistent with results of Toyoshima et al. (), whose study of college students provided evidence of cortisol benefits associated with clay molding and calligraphy as well as piano playing. Although different visual arts activities may be associated differently with emotional change (e.g., Drake & Winner, ), the present results attest to the potential for the visual arts to predict reduced cortisol for children facing poverty risks.…”

“…In examining the impact of music, specifically, we found lower average cortisol after music compared to homeroom classes. This result is consistent with studies showing lower cortisol after music listening (e.g., Khalfa et al., ) and piano playing (Toyoshima et al., ) for heterogeneous income samples of adults. Although some kinds of music, for example, in video games, might lead to cortisol elevations (Hébert, Béland, Dionne‐Fournelle, Crête, & Lupien, ), the present research adds to evidence that music can be used to lower cortisol.…”

“…Different arts modalities may have different effects. One study by Toyoshima, Fukui, and Kuda () reported cortisol reductions associated with piano playing, clay molding, and calligraphy for respective groups of college students and noted the greatest reductions were linked to piano. Also, within a given modality, different arts activities may have different effects.…”

Creative Arts Interventions for Stress Management and Prevention—A Systematic Review

“…Table 1 summarizes content, sample, and intervention characteristics, design, research methods, and results of the studies identified [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ]. In total, 37 studies met our inclusion criteria, 11 studies (29.7%) investigated the effect of AT or art interventions on stress, 20 studies (54.1%) focused on MT or musical interventions, and 6 studies (16.2%) assessed the effects of DMT or dance interventions.…”

“…Two of the studies [ 45 , 50 ] used physical measures (cortisol level [ 45 ]; pulse and blood pressure [ 50 ]) to operationalize stress. MT or musical interventions reduced stress and anxiety in 16 of 20 studies (10 on MT, 6 on music interventions) [ 53 , 54 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 70 , 72 ]. Four studies (one of MT, three on music interventions) [ 53 , 61 , 68 , 70 ] reported reductions in cortisol level, as a physical measurement of stress, and two studies (both on MT) [ 53 , 58 ] found a decrease of sleeping problems through musical interventions.…”