Everyone enjoys a song from time to time whether its classical, rock, country, hip-hop, or folk music. The entertainment aspect of listening to music is a great one. Music can bring back memories and bring up good emotions. In general music can be emotional. Many can say that listening to music is a great way to pass time and feel good.
The positive effects of listening to music come from stimulating the neurochemical systems and therefore stimulating the perception of pleasure, reward, motivation, and arousal. This lessens stress and anxiety improving the extent of social affiliation and increasing the efficiency of the immune system. Importantly participation in community music and singing activities can exert beneficial effects in terms of reduction of isolation, depression, and mental health. (Viola et al.)
After performing a statistical analysis here are the results: active and passive music activities can positively influence health and wellbeing. The data does suggest that there just isn’t a big enough of a relation to say that the effects of music are positive. Common sense says that it can contribute to many positive human functions like socializing and improving mood. (Viola et al.)
Other studies suggest that music does indeed have benefits for the listener. A study on people with schizophrenia patients concluded that music therapy as an addition to standard care improves the global state, mental state, social functioning, and quality of life of people with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like disorders. (Geretsegger, 2017) Yet another study states that listening to music prior to a standardized stressor predominantly affect the autonomic nervous system and to a lesser degree the endocrine and psychological stress response. (Thoma et al., 2013) Other benefits of music include reduce anxiety, improve memory, improve learning, and helps symptoms of depression. There are other effects that music has on the body. Effects like reduction in fatigue, boosts exercise performance, and helps manage pain. (Mfa, 2020) In conclusion there are many benefits of listening to your favorite music!
Viola, E M, et al. “The Role of Music in Promoting Health and Wellbeing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” European Journal of Public Health, vol. 33, no. 4, 15 June 2023, pp. 738–745, academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/33/4/738/7199198?login=false, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckad063. Accessed 25 Aug. 2023.
Geretsegger M, Mössler KA, Bieleninik Ł, Chen XJ, Heldal TO, Gold C. Music therapy for people with schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like disorders. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 May 29;5(5):CD004025. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004025.pub4. PMID: 28553702; PMCID: PMC6481900.
Thoma, M. V., La Marca, R., Brönnimann, R., Finkel, L., Ehlert, U., & Nater, U. M. (2013). The effect of music on the human stress response. PLoS ONE, 8(8), e70156. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070156
Mfa, R. J. S. (2020, April 1). The Benefits of Listening to Music. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-music#takeaway