New Research on Music’s Impact on Health and Wellbeing

Music’s wide-ranging health benefits received a new wave of recognition through the recent publication of two studies, each showing long-lasting benefits from music engagement.

A comprehensive literature review published in Frontiers draws on 76 studies over the past 20 years to illustrate the profound impact of music education on adolescent development and wellbeing. It’s a timely report given the renewed focus on health and education in the United Nations’ 2030 global priorities.

In other news, a recent NPR article promotes the positive effect music therapy can have on those managing stress and anxiety; it’s one of the leading factors in healing from the trauma of cancer. The study, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, shows music therapy to be as effective as cognitive-behavioral therapy, long considered the “gold standard” for anxiety management. The study makes an important point that therapeutic collaboration matters as much as the music, helping patients access and process their emotions through the act of creation.