Effects of choir singing on physiological stress in Japanese older adults: its relationship with cognitive functioning and subjective well-being
Year: 2023
Type: article
Abstract: Background Leisure activities are believed to contribute to healthy ageing. We compared the effects of choir singing and go playing on cortisol levels in Japanese older adults. We also examined its relevance to the older adults’ emotional affect and cognitive performance.Methods Thirty-six older adults participated either in choir or go playing, within a 2 (groups)×2 (time points) design. Dependent measures included levels of salivary cortisol, as well as key psychological, cognitive, and neuropsychological measures.Results A significant two-way interaction was observed, showing that levels of salivary cortisol decreased for the choir but increased for the go groups. The decrease in salivary cortisol for the choir group correlated with the participant’s negative affect and their degree of cognitive impairment.Conclusion Choir singing has the potential to reduce Japanese older adults’ physiological stress. The decreases can be seen more prominently for people with stronger negative affect and cognitive impairment. Further research is required to replicate these effects.
Source: Arts & Health
Institutions: Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto City University of Arts, Tokyo Metropolitan Public University Corporation, Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Chukyo University, Hitotsubashi University, Royal College of Music, Imperial College London
Language: English
Topic: Music Therapy and Health
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Awards: Art for Ages: An Interdisciplinary Study of Older People's Well-being via Musical Activity, Development of custom-made non-pharmacological therapy focusing on residual functions in elderly and dementia patients, The Generative Mechanism of Music-Induced Body Movement: Exploring Its Neurocognitive System and Application to Music Therapy, G7196359771
OpenAlex ID: W4387326211