What works for wellbeing: Music, singing and wellbeing in healthy adults

"Participation in music or singing, or listening to music, can have positive effects on self-esteem and subjective wellbeing. The task now is to harness the insights and integrated knowledge of the review into future policy-related research that could report more fully on the extent of subjective wellbeing that is generated by participatory music-making, singing or listening." Professor Alan Tomlinson

This research project explored the impact of participation in music or singing on self-esteem and subjective wellbeing. Findings were the first of a series of reviews, reports and publications produced by the Culture, Sport and Wellbeing research network, a collaboration between our researchers and those from Brunel University London, the London School of Economics and the University of Winchester. Professor Alan Tomlinson, Professor of Leisure Studies, and Professor Guy Julier, Professor of Design Culture, led the University of Brighton contribution.

Funded for three years to the tune of more than £1 million, the Culture, Sport and Wellbeing network is one of four research groupings to hold awards from the ESRC. Each is contributing to a programme co-ordinated by the ESRC-funded What Works Centre for Wellbeing, launched by the Government to develop and share evidence that governments, businesses, communities and people can use to improve wellbeing across the UK.

The project aimed to:

> collate and classify data from a range of studies from research published in numerous countries between 1996 and 2016 in a systematic review
> determine whether participation in music or singing, or listening to music can have positive effects on self-esteem and subjective wellbeing
> examine the evidence of impact on different populations that participated in these activities to inform better policymaking.

"This evidence review of music and singing shows, for the first time, a national evidence base that local authorities, health professionals, businesses and charities can use to see who can benefit from local and national wellbeing programmes. It can help us reach people otherwise overlooked, and avoid cutting interventions that are effective." Nancy Hey, Director, What Works Centre for Wellbeing

The strongest evidence surrounds music and singing for older people and includes effects of music, particularly singing, on morale, mental health-related quality of life, loneliness, anxiety and depression. There is also moderate quality evidence for wellbeing outcomes of music and singing for specific sub groups including young adults, marginalised groups and people in justice settings. Outcomes for these groups include changes in mood, anxiety and sense of purpose.

There is high quality evidence that music and singing activities can enhance and maintain subjective wellbeing in healthy adults. The highest quality evidence supports the promotion of group singing and music programmes. In particular, there is convincing evidence that participatory music and singing programmes can help to maintain wellbeing and prevent isolation, depression and mental ill health in older adult age groups. There is, therefore, evidence to support the development of policy and continuation of support for music and singing interventions for wellbeing outcomes for this group.

There is also high quality evidence that listening to music can improve wellbeing in other groups: for example, alleviating anxiety in young adults, who have to date been relatively neglected in debates and programme development around music, arts and wellbeing. Addressing issues of context, social diversity and wellbeing inequalities represents an important focus point for policy and practice agendas on music singing and wellbeing.

Review highlights included promising evidence that listening to relaxing music can alleviate anxiety and anger in prison populations and young offenders. Initial evidence also suggests pregnant women who take part in structured music therapy show signs of lower stress, anxiety and depression.

The evidence was also promising for music-making schemes for refugee and other marginalised groups. Participants reported that singing in groups helped them to learn, build relationships and engage in a meaningful exchange with the wider community and that such participation could also enhance or revise an individual’s sense of identity.

Relatively high levels of happiness and ‘worthwhileness’ were found in religious or spiritual contexts such as Gospel and South Asian music concerts, as well as among adults who play an instrument.

A key challenge for establishing evidence in this field is the breadth and diversity of projects and research approaches adopted. Studies included in this review encompassed a wide range of music and singing activities in delivery formats that ranged from very brief interventions lasting less than half an hour to projects lasting a year as well as ongoing participation over several years.

More research is needed to understand the relationship between music activity and wellbeing over time. Furthermore, there is scope for additional well-designed evaluations and robust research studies which examine music and singing interventions other than group singing, playing and listening. It is particularly important to understand which specific components work and do not work to improve wellbeing outcomes in terms of duration, type and delivery formats and to understand the processes by which wellbeing outcomes are achieved. Qualitative research in this field needs to move beyond descriptive reporting of participant responses to analyse and report on conflict and challenges associated with music, singing and wellbeing projects.

Four further reviews by the Culture, Sport and Wellbeing group will explore wellbeing and how wellbeing outcomes are achieved in the contexts of:

adolescents, young people, and sport and dance
visual arts as experienced by adults with mental health conditions
sport and recreation across the family life-course
and co-produced interventions in a variety of settings.