Singing your troubles away: The experience of singing from a psychological standpoint—Contributions from a heuristic research.

Abstract

Singing is a complex, multifaceted activity and a multidisciplinary area of research. Although it is a ubiquitous human phenomenon, its psychological aspects are yet to be fully understood. This article presents a brief overview of the latest psychological studies on singing, with the aims of contributing to describing the subjective experience of singing, based on first-person accounts and on the researcher's self-discovery process. Results are presented of a qualitative research study where 6 in-depth interviews were conducted by the authors in Brazil. The research steps followed Clark Moustakas' heuristic method. The experience of singing is presented in the form of a composite depiction and in two categories: what singing means to us and the impact singing has on us. Singing was revealed as an activity filled with healthy aspects, like promoting integration, enabling self-awareness, serving as an impetus for personal growth, and being an important expression of creativity, a vehicle of identity, and a means of communication. A brief discussion of the implications of these results for future research is also presented.

The expression of music throughout the lives of expectant parents

“…Referred to as, “communicative musicality” (Trevarthen, 1999/2000) and “affective attunement” (Stern, 1985), parent–infant interactions that involve connecting and responding in a melodic fashion to each other confer positive effects on infant development (e.g., Custodero, 2006). Specifically, parents use lullabies and play songs to comfort, convey cultural values, teach, support family routines (Addessi, 2009; Custodero, Britto, & Xin, 2002; Ilari, 2005) and support emotion regulation in their young children (Creighton, Atherton & Kitamura, 2013).…”

“…Music confers positive physiological effects on newborn infants (Olischar, Shoemark, Holton, Weninger, & Hunt, 2011) and can reduce adults’ physiological stress response (Zimmerman, Pierson, & Marker, 1988). For instance, in a recent study of healthy mothers and infants (Creighton et al, 2013), mothers described feeling calm when singing to their children and they reported a sense of affirmation and increased focus when they could regulate their infant’s emotions through song.…”

Educational models of spiritual formation in theological education: Introspection‐based spiritual formation

“…Brisola and Cury (2015), in their qualitative study of the singing experience, found that singing enhances the integration of one's cognitive, physical, social, cultural, and emotional well‐being (Brisola & Cury, 2015, p. 403). Participants reported that singing provided a deeper sense of consciousness, self‐value, self‐esteem, and stronger self‐awareness (Brisola & Cury, 2015, p. 402).…”

“…Brisola and Cury (2015), in their qualitative study of the singing experience, found that singing enhances the integration of one's cognitive, physical, social, cultural, and emotional well‐being (Brisola & Cury, 2015, p. 403). Participants reported that singing provided a deeper sense of consciousness, self‐value, self‐esteem, and stronger self‐awareness (Brisola & Cury, 2015, p. 402). Saunders et al (2007), in their qualitative study of the impact of an experiential mind–body skills course, found that it helped medical students achieve self‐awareness, self‐reflection, and self‐care (Saunders et al, 2007, p. 778).…”

Investigating Experience of Mothers Singing to Their Infants: In Search of Meanings

“…Saúde mental materna tornou-se uma área de preocupação crescente para pesquisadores, clínicos e gestores de políticas públicas, já que há evidências de que as consequências de problemas emocionais de mães no período perinatal não estão limitadas ao sofrimento que as aflige, mas estendem-se à qualidade do relacionamento conjugal, ao relacionamento mãe-bebê e ao desenvolvimento da criança (Zelkowitz & Papageorgiou, 2012, p. 205, tradução nossa). Apesar de esses autores se preocuparem primordialmente com a ansiedade e depressão maternas, acreditamos que sua afirmação é igualmente verdadeira em se tratando de saúde mental (em oposição à doença); e, ousamos acrescentar, que a saúde mental da mulher também repercute no relacionamento com seu parceiro e filho(a). Se cantar já foi identificado por pesquisadores como um meio de promover saúde mental (Brisola & Cury, 2015), então deve ser mais bem compreendido e explorado.…”