Ruhi Bhaskar

The Impact of Features in Popular Music on Physiological and Psychological Stress Responses

Started Jan. 26, 2024

Abstract or project description

Stress is a prevalent issue affecting about 75% of Americans in 2024 (Single Care, 2024), contributing to numerous physical and psychological health problems like obesity, endocrine disturbances, and sleep loss. Many popular stress interventions include face-to-face therapy and meditation (DrKumo, 2023), though effective, they may not always be accessible or enjoyable. This review paper explores the potential of music therapy as an accessible and effective intervention for stress. This paper analyzes past research on the impact of various musical features and genres on stress responses. It was found that music with middle-range frequencies, medium tempo, legato articulation, major keys, and lyrics are the most beneficial in alleviating stress and the harm it causes. It was concluded that listening to specific types of music daily improves overall well-being and stress management. Further research includes exploring the direct effects of music on obesity and the fluctuation of endocrine levels, exploring studies on how specific genres could affect stress, obesity, and endocrine levels, and exploring updated results about the effects of different musical genres and features to satisfy new trends in music.