Association of Music Interventions With Health-Related Quality of Life

Abstract

Key Points Question Are music-making and listening interventions associated with positive changes in health-related quality of life? Findings This systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 studies comprising 779 individuals found that music interventions were associated with statistically and clinically significant changes in mental HRQOL, both preintervention to postintervention as well as when music interventions were added to treatment as usual vs treatment as usual control groups. Meaning These results suggest that associations between music interventions and clinically significant changes in HRQOL are demonstrable in comprehensive reviews of previous studies.

Musical sophistication and its relationship with executive functions, autistic traits, and quality of life.

“…Consistent with our hypothesis, the significant indirect effect suggests that EF mediates the relationship between musical sophistication and QoL. Although a positive association between musical activities/interventions and QoL was consistently observed (Clift & Hancox, 2001; McCrary et al, 2022; Särkämö et al, 2014), potential mediators for the effects of musical activities on QoL were seldom explored previously. Given that musical training might have a positive influence on EF (Benz et al, 2016), and the importance of EF on QoL (Diamond, 2013), the indirect effect of musical sophistication on QoL with EF as the mediator seems supported.…”

A Systematic Review of Music-Based Interventions to Improve Treatment Engagement and Mental Health Outcomes for Adolescents and Young Adults

“…Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses on music-based interventions for mental health have focused mostly on capturing outcomes among children and younger adolescents or adults. For example, several reviews focused on adults with depression (Chan et al, 2011 ; Maratos et al, 2008 ; Tang et al, 2020 ; Zhao et al, 2016 ) while others have examined specific subgroups including those with serious mental illness (Carr et al, 2013 ; Gold et al, 2009 ), general mental health conditions (Lee & Thyer, 2013 ), health-related quality of life (McCrary et al, 2022 ), and justice-involved youth (Daykin et al, 2013 ). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses focused on children and adolescents experiencing mental health conditions have reported medium effect sizes (Belski et al, 2021 ; Geipel et al, 2018 ; Gold et al, 2004 ).…”

“…Previous systematic reviews have primarily examined if music-based interventions affect outcomes while none have focused on capturing psychosocial mechanisms to explain how change occurs. Reviews that have emphasized mechanisms of change have focused largely on neurological processes (e.g., brainstem activity, neurochemical rewards, parasympathetic activity) (McCrary et al, 2022 ; Mrázová & Celec, 2010 ; Yinger & Gooding, 2014 ) while less is known about psychosocial mechanisms. Indeed, recent reviews have called for more systematic research to uncover mechanisms of change (Gustavson et al, 2021 ; Hohmann et al, 2017 ; McCrary et al, 2022 ; McFerran et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Reviews that have emphasized mechanisms of change have focused largely on neurological processes (e.g., brainstem activity, neurochemical rewards, parasympathetic activity) (McCrary et al, 2022 ; Mrázová & Celec, 2010 ; Yinger & Gooding, 2014 ) while less is known about psychosocial mechanisms. Indeed, recent reviews have called for more systematic research to uncover mechanisms of change (Gustavson et al, 2021 ; Hohmann et al, 2017 ; McCrary et al, 2022 ; McFerran et al, 2020 ). For example, McFerran and colleagues ( 2020 ) argue that greater precision is needed in providing a theoretical rationale for why certain music-based techniques are used and how they may relate to outcomes.…”

Psychological benefits of hobby engagement in older age: a longitudinal cross-country analysis of 93,263 older adults in 16 countries

“…These ndings are supported by individual studies in the US (n=16,043) 13 , Japan (n=37,627) 14 , UK (n=8,780) 15 , and China (n=6,287) 16 showing concurrent and longitudinal relationships (three to 12 years follow-up) between other types of hobbies such as community groups, arts, and social clubs and lower incidence and prevalence of depression in older adults. Similarly, metaanalyses of various types of leisure activities such as dancing, nature-based activities and gardening have reported bene ts for positive aspects of wellbeing 10,[17][18][19][20] . Again, these ndings are supported by individual studies from the Sweden (n= 157 twins) 21 , UK (n=10,989) 22 , Japan (n= 6,093) 23 , and US (n=12,111) 24 focusing on broader activities such as volunteering, arts, cultural engagement and indoor gardening.…”