Research published in the scientific journal Start Tuesday (22/3) shows that the effect of music on people’s emotional state is similar to the effect of physical exercise.
Researchers at the University of Music in Hannover, Germany, reviewed 26 studies analyzing how engaging in musical activities affects people’s feelings – the list of works included both music therapy activities for cancer patients and participation in gospel choirs to prevent heart disease.
In all studies, the questions asked to the volunteers followed two forms of questionnaires considered standard for seeking information on life habits and emotional balance.
“A meta-analysis of 26 studies of musical interventions provided clear quantitative and medium-quality evidence that music interventions are associated with clinically significant changes in mental health,” the authors wrote.
The findings were compared with other studies that analyzed the benefits of non-pharmacological interventions in mental health, such as routine physical exercise or adherence to a weight loss program.
According to the researchers, the improvement in mental health that volunteers reported with the musical interventions fell within the realm of influence of physical exercise or weight loss programmes.
Learn to recognize the signs that you need mental health care
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