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How music can affect stress:

Music is an art that has dated back for centuries. It has evolved over time and different genres have sprouted up, but one constant is the ability of music to help people. Music can address all aspects of health based on the biopsychosocial model, establishing it as a vital resource during the current pandemic. Music has a positive effect on all aspects of health, so we need to utilize it in a way that people can connect and share in a safe manner. It is vital to protect individuals in order to protect the larger population. 

Biological Aspect:

The connection between music and physical health has dated back as far as World War II when doctors would play music for injured soldiers who subsequently experienced lower infection and mortality rates. Music can help reduce pain, infection rates, and improve emotional status because of the positive impact on neurotransmitters in the brain. The brain reacts to music and releases acetylcholine and norepinephrine that help the body to mediate the immune response and heal. According to one study, after rats were exposed to a stressful environment, those that were treated with music therapy after had “clear recovery of immune mediators after therapy.” The chemical mediators that are facilitated by music can greatly improve the body’s stress response.

Social Aspect

Having a sense of community when listening to music can positively influence people and reduce feelings of isolation. Music, being the most consumed form of culture, “creates a sense of belonging and participation” according to Langley and Coutts (2020). Music takes a different form in each genre, each country, and each culture in a way that is unique to the listeners. Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic people have been forced to stay at home and stay away from their social supports like friends and family. These feelings of isolation can be detrimental to a person’s health and cause them to sink into a depression or feeling of hopelessness. Feelings of isolation and depression can cause a stress response that lowers a person’s immunity, which can make an individual more susceptible to getting sick, especially if they are exposed to the Covid-19 virus. It becomes essential to find ways for people to connect, and that is where music comes in. There are videos below from all over the world of people safely interacting with their communities through the internet or from their windows and balconies who have accepted the struggles that they are faced with and finding a communal solution.

Psychological Aspect

Music is crucial to mental health, especially in teens and young adults. Evidence suggests that music is subconsciously related to health maintenance and emotional status in youth. In teens, good mental health and development can help them form build an identity, establish their values and beliefs, and connect with others who feel strongly about the same genres. People of all ages can experience depression and anxiety, both of which music can help relieve. It creates a different, meaningful experience for each listener while still providing them a way to bond with others over what they are listening to.

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