Abstracts
Abstract
There are many benefits associated with playing music in later life but few studies have looked at biomarkers of stress and immune response among musicians. A pilot study, undertaken to test a research protocol prior to a larger study, was carried out with eight amateur instrumentalists aged 50+ to investigate variations in stress (cortisol and alpha-amylase) and immune response (secretory immunoglobulin A) under two conditions (Music and Rest). In summary, cortisol levels tend to decline following both conditions, but results were more pronounced for the Rest condition. While sIgA increased in the Rest condition, it showed a larger variability in the Music condition. These results are promising and demonstrate that music can influence some biological markers. This study contributes to raising awareness that music can be a creative strategy to promote healthy aging.
Keywords:
- immune response,
- music-making,
- older amateur musicians,
- salutogenesis,
- stress
Résumé
Il existe de nombreux avantages associés à la pratique de la musique plus tard dans la vie, mais peu d’études se sont penchées sur les biomarqueurs du stress et de la réponse immunitaire chez les musicien·ne·s. Une étude pilote, entreprise pour tester un protocole de recherche avant sa mise en place dans contexte plus large, a été réalisée auprès de huit instrumentistes amateur·rice·s âgé·e·s de 50 ans et plus pour étudier les variations du stress (cortisol et alpha-amylase) et de la réponse immunitaire (immunoglobuline-a sécrétoire, ou IgA) sous deux conditions (Musique et Repos). En résumé, les niveaux de cortisol ont eu tendance à diminuer après les deux conditions, mais le changement était plus marqué pour la condition Repos. Pour l’IgA, les niveaux ont augmenté dans la condition Repos et ont montré une plus grande variabilité dans la condition Musique. Ces résultats sont prometteurs et démontrent que la musique peut exercer une influence sur certains marqueurs biologiques.
Mots-clés :
- musicien·ne·s amateur·rice·s âgé·e·s,
- pratique musicale,
- réponse immunitaire,
- salutogenèse,
- stress
Appendices
Bibliography
- Adam, Emma K., Lindsay Till Hoyt, and Douglas A. Granger (2011), “Diurnal Alpha Amylase Patterns in Adolescents. Associations with Puberty and Momentary Mood States,” Biological Psychology, vol. 88, nos 2-3, pp. 170–173, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2011.07.007.
- Ali, Nida, and Urs M. Nater (2020), “Salivary Alpha-Amylase as a Biomarker of Stress In Behavioral Medicine,” International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Official Journal of the International Society of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 27, no 3, pp. 337–342, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-019-09843-x.
- Antonovsky, Aaron (1979), Health, Stress, and Coping. New Perspectives on Mental and Physical Well Being, San Francisco, Jossey-Bass Publishers.
- Antonovsky, Aaron (1987), Sense of Coherence Scale [Database record], apa PsycTests, https://doi.org/10.1037/t12396-000.
- Barbeau, Audrey-Kristel, and Isabelle Cossette (2019), “The Effects of Participating in Community Concert Band on Senior Citizens’ Quality of Life, Health aAnd Performance Anxiety,” International Journal of Community Music, vol. 12, no 2, pp. 269–288, http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/ijcm.12.2.269_1.
- Barbeau, Audrey-Kristel, and Roger Mantie (2019), “Music Performance Anxiety and Perceived Benefits of Musical Participation Among Older Adults in Community Bands,” Journal of Research in Music Education, vol. 66, no 4, pp. 408–427, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022429418799362.
- Batt-Rawden, Kari (2012), “The Role of Music in a Salutogenic Approach to Health,” International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, vol. 12, no 2, pp. 11–18, https://doi.org/10.1080/14623730.2010.9721809.
- Beck, Robert J., et al. (2000), “Choral Singing, Performance Perception, and Immune System Changes in Salivary Immunoglobulin A and Cortisol,” Music Perception. An Interdisciplinary Journal, vol. 18, no 1, pp. 87–106, https://doi.org/10.2307/40285902.
- Bittman, Barry B., et al. (2001), “Composite Effects of Group Drumming Music Therapy on Modulation of Neuroendocrine-Immune Parameters in Normal Subjects,” Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, vol. 7, no 1, pp. 38–47, https://www.rhythmresearchresources.net/uploads/1/1/2/9/112916705/bittman_article._neuroendocrine_effects.pdf, accessed April 25, 2024.
- Bosch, Jos A., et al. (2002), “Stress and Secretory Immunity,” International Review of Neurobiology, vol. 52, pp. 213–253, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0074-7742(02)52011-0.
- Boucher, Hélène, and Charlene A. Ryan (2011), “Performance Stress and the Very Young Musician,” Journal of Research in Music Education, vol. 58, no 2, pp. 329–345, https://doi.org/10.1177/0022429410386965.
- Brydges, Christopher R. (2019), “Effect Size Guidelines, Sample Size Calculations, and Statistical Power in Gerontology,” Innovation in Aging, vol. 3, no 4, pp. 1–8, https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igz036.
- Burns, Sarah, et al. (2001), “A Pilot Study into the Therapeutic Effects of Music Therapy at a Cancer Help Center,” Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, vol. 7, no 1, pp. 48–56.
- Chafin, Sky, et al. (2004), “Music Can Facilitate Blood Pressure Recovery from Stress,” British Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 9, no 3, pp. 393–403, https://doi.org/10.1348/1359107041557020.
- Chanda, Mona Lisa, and Daniel J. Levitin (2013), “The Neurochemistry of Music,” Trends in Cognitive Sciences, vol. 17, no 4, pp. 179–193, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2013.02.007.
- Cohen, Gene D., et al. (2006), “The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on The Physical Health, Mental Health, and Social Functioning of Older Adults,” Gerontologist, vol. 46, no 6, pp. 726–734, https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/46.6.726.
- Cox, Wendy J., and Justin Kenardy (1993), “Performance Anxiety, Social Phobia and Setting Effects in Instrumental Music Students,” Journal of Anxiety Disorders, vol. 7, no 1, pp. 49–60, https://doi.org/10.1016/0887-6185(93)90020-L.
- Creech, Andrea, et al. (2014), Active Ageing with Music. Supporting Wellbeing in the Third and Fourth Ages, London, Institute of Education Press.
- Dempsey, Erin, and Gilles Comeau (2019), “Music Performance Anxiety and Self-efficacy in Young Musicians. Effects of Gender and Age,” Music Performance Research, vol. 9, pp. 60–79.
- Dienes, Zoltan (2014), “Using Bayes to Get the Most out of Non-significant Results,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 5, article 781, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00781.
- Epel, Elissa S., and Gordon J. Lithgrow (2014), “Stress Biology and Aging Mechanisms. Toward Understanding the Deep Connection Between Adaptation to Stress and Longevity,” The Journals of Gerontology. Series A, vol. 69, Issue Suppl_1, pp. S10–S16, https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glu055.
- Esplen, Mary Jane, and Ellen Hodnett (1999), “A Pilot Study Investigating Student Musicians’ Experiences of Guided Imagery as a Technique to Manage Performance Anxiety,” Medical Problems of Performing Artists, vol. 14, pp. 127–132.
- Eyerly, Heather Erin (2007), Choral Singing and Health. The Impact of Circle of Sound Voice Education (C) and Choral Singing on Salivary Immunoglobulin A of Children and Youth, doctoral dissertation, University of Toronto, https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/117086, accessed April 25, 2024.
- Eyre, Lillian (2011), “Therapeutic Chorale for Persons with Chronic Mental Illness. A Descriptive Survey of Participant Experiences,” Journal of Music Therapy, vol. 48, no 2, pp. 149–168, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/48.2.149.
- Fancourt, Daisy, Lisa Aufegger, and Aaron Williamon (2015), “Low-Stress and High-Stress Singing Have Contrasting Effects on Glucocorticoid Response,” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 6, pp. 1242–1242, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01242.
- Fancourt, Daisy, et al. (2016), “Singing Modulates Mood, Stress, Cortisol, Cytokine and Neuropeptide Activity in Cancer Patients and Carers,” ecancermedicalscience, vol. 10, no 631, https://doi.org/10.3332/ecancer.2016.631.
- Field, Andy (2009), Discovering Statistics Using spss, 3rd edition, London, Sage Publications.
- Gassen, Nils C., et al. (2017), “Life Stress, Glucocorticoid Signaling, and the Aging Epigenome. Implications for Aging-Related Diseases,” Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 74, part B, pp. 356–365, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.06.003.
- Grebosz-Haring, Katarzyna, and Leonhard Thun-Hohenstein (2018), “Effects of Group Singing Versus Group Music Listening on Hospitalized Children and Adolescents with Mental Disorders. A Pilot Study,” Heliyon, vol. 4, no 12, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e01014.
- Good, Arla, and Frank A. Russo (2022), “Changes in Mood, Oxytocin, and Cortisol Following Group and Individual Singing. A Pilot Study,” Psychology of Music, vol. 50, no 4, pp. 1340–1347, https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356211042668.
- Hanser, Suzanne B. (1985), “Music Therapy and Stress Reduction Research,” Journal of Music Therapy, vol. 22, no 4, pp. 193–206, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/22.4.193.
- Hucklebridge, Frank, Angela Clow, and Phil Evans (1998), “The Relationship Between Salivary Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Cortisol. Neuroendocrine Response to Awakening and the Diurnal Cycle,” International Journal of Psychophysiology, vol. 31, no 1, pp. 69–76.
- Kenny, Dianna T. (2011), The Psychology of Music Performance Anxiety, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
- Kreutz, Gunter, et al. (2004), “Effects of Choir Singing or Listening on Secretory Immunoglobulin A, Cortisol, and Emotional State,” Journal of Behavioral Medicine, vol. 27, pp. 623–635, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-004-0006-9.
- Kuhn, Dawn (2002), “The Effects of Active and Passive Participation in Musical Activity on the Immune System as Measured by Salivary Immunoglobulin A (SlgA),” Journal of Music Therapy, vol. 39, no 1, pp. 30–39.
- Leach, Liana S., et al. (2008), “Gender Differences in Depression and Anxiety Across the Adult Lifespan. The Role of Psychosocial Mediators,” Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, vol. 43, no 12, pp. 983–998, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0388-z.
- Lindström, Bengt, and Monica Eriksson (2011), “From Health Education to Healthy Learning. Implementing Salutogenesis in Educational Science,” Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, vol. 39, no 6_suppl, pp. 85–92, https://doi.org/10.1177/1403494810393560.
- Lindström, Bengt, and Monica Eriksson (2012), La salutogenèse. Petit guide pour promouvoir la santé, French adaptation by Mathieu Roy and Michel O’Neill, Québec, Presses de l’Université Laval.
- Linnemann, Alexandra, et al. (2015), “Music Listening as a Means of Stress Reduction in Daily Life,” Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol. 60, pp. 82–90, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.06.008.
- Lupien, Sonia J., et al. (1998), “Cortisol Levels during Human Aging Predict Hippocampal Atrophy and Memory Deficits,” Nature Neuroscience, vol. 1, no 1, pp. 69–73, https://doi.org/10.1038/271.
- Lupien, Sonia J. (2013), How to Measure Stress in Humans, 2nd edition, Centre for Studies in Human Stress, Fernand Seguin Research Centre of Louis-H. Lafontaine Hospital, Quebec, Canada.
- Maruyama, Yoshihiro, et al. (2012), “Differences in Salivary Alpha-Amylase and Cortisol Responsiveness following Exposure to Electrical Stimulation versus the Trier Social Stress Tests,” Plos One, vol. 7, no 7, article e39375, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0039375.
- McPherson, Trevor, et al. (2019), “Active and Passive Rhythmic Music Therapy Interventions Differentially Modulate Sympathetic Autonomic Nervous System Activity,” Journal of Music Therapy, vol. 56, no 3, pp. 240–264, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thz007.
- Miller, Staci Renee, and Kris Chesky (2004), “The Multidimensional Anxiety Theory. An Assessment of and Relationships Between Intensity and Direction of Cognitive Anxiety, Somatic Anxiety, and Self-Confidence over Multiple Performance Requirements among College Music Majors,” Medical Problems of Performing Artists, vol. 19, no 1, pp. 12–20.
- Morgan, Charity J. (2017), “Use of Proper Statistical Techniques for Research Studies with Small Samples,” American Journal of Physiology, vol. 313, no 5, pp. L873–L877, https://doi.org/10.1152/ajplung.00238.2017.
- Nicholson, D. Riley, Meghan W. Cody, and J. Gayle Beck (2015), “Anxiety in Musicians. On and off Stage,” Psychology of Music, vol. 43, no 3, p. 438–449.
- Orejudo, Santos, et al. (2017), “The Relation of Music Performance Anxiety (mpa) to Optimism, Self-efficacy, and Sensitivity to Reward and Punishment. Testing Barlow’s Theory of Vulnerability on a Sample of Spanish Music Students,” Psychology of Music, vol. 45, no 4, pp. 570–583.
- Papageorgi, Loulia, Susan Hallam, and Graham F. Welch (2007), “A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Musical Performance Anxiety,” Research Studies in Music Education, vol. 28, pp. 83–107.
- Petrakova, Liubov, et al. (2017), “Salivary Alpha-Amylase and Noradrenaline Responses to Corticotropin-releasing Hormone Administration in Humans,” Biological Psychology, vol. 127, pp. 34–39, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.04.016.
- Pigott, Teresa A. (1999), “Gender Differences in the Epidemiology and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders,” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, vol. 60, pp. 4–15.
- Robson, Kim E., and Dianna T. Kenny (2017), “Music Performance Anxiety in Ensemble Rehearsals and Concerts. A Comparison of Music and Non-music Major Undergraduate Musicians,” Psychology of Music, vol. 45, no 6, pp. 868–885, https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735617693472.
- Rohleder, Nicolas, and Urs M. Nater (2009), “Determinants of Salivary a-Amylase in Humans and Methodological Considerations,” Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol. 34, no 4, pp. 469–485, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.12.004.
- Skingley, Ann, and Hilary Bungay (2010), “The Silver Song Club Project. Singing to Promote the Health of Older People,” British Journal of Community Nursing, vol. 15, no 3, pp. 135–140, https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2010.15.3.46902.
- Spielberger, Charles D. (1983), Manual for the State-trait Anxiety Inventory, Palo Alto, ca, Consulting Psychologists.
- Statistics Canada (2020), “Estimations de la population du Canada. Âge et sexe, 1er juillet 2020,”, Le Quotidien, September 29, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200929/dq200929b-fra.htm, accessed May 2, 2024.
- Staricoff, Rosalia Lelchuck (2004), Arts in Health. A Review of The Medical Literature, Research Report 36, London, Arts Council England.
- The whoqol Group (1998), “Development of the World Health Organization whoqol-bref Quality of Life Assessment,” Psychological medicine, vol. 28, no 3, pp. 551–558, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291798006667.
- Thoma, Myriam V., et al. (2013), “The Effect of Music on the Human Stress Response,” Plos One, vol. 8, no 8, article e70156, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070156.
- Toyoshima, Kumiko, Hakime Fukui, and Kiyoto Kuda (2011), “Piano Playing Reduces Stress more than Other Creative Art Activities,” International Journal of Music Education, vol. 29, no 3, pp. 257–263, https://doi.org/10.1177/0255761411408505.
- Ulrich-Lai, Yvonne M., and James P. Herman (2009), “Neural Regulation of Endocrine and Autonomic Stress Responses,” Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, vol. 10, no 6, pp. 397–409, https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2647.
- United Nations (2019), World Population Prospects 2019. Highlights, st/esa/ser.a/423, New York, United Nations, https://doi.org/10.18356/13bf5476-en.
- Wong, Melanie Mitsui, et al. (2021), “Biomarkers of Stress in Music Interventions. A Systematic Review,” Journal of Music Therapy, vol. 58, no 3, pp. 241–277, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmt/thab003.
- Wulff, Verena, et al. (2021), “The Effects of a Music and Singing Intervention during Pregnancy on Maternal Well-being and Mother-infant Bonding. A Randomised, Controlled Study,” Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, vol. 303, pp. 69–83.
- Zelenak, Michael S. (2015), “Measuring Sources of Self-efficacy among Secondary School Music Students,” Journal of Research in Music Education, vol. 62, no 4, pp. 389–404.