Great data from this meta-analysis shows that Gospel music can improve heart health, choral singing improves quality of life for cancer survivors, and in fact all forms of music enhances emotional wellbeing.
According to this research, the positive benefits of music on wellbeing had an equal impact on mental health as non-music interventions, like exercising. And a subgroup analysis of eight studies found that adding music to existing treatment had a significant improvement on mental health versus receiving treatment without music.
One reason for this may come from the impact music has on your stress response, and also the release of dopamine, which is the body’s natural reward chemical. And, we have all known times when music might make a boring walk more exciting, a stressful morning more mellow, or make a hard situation just a bit easier.
Exercising to music is a great for your workout as well. Recent studies have found people get more out of their workout when also listening to music.
So the next time you’re feeling down, try queuing up your favorite song. It just might boost your quality of life—or at the very least, your mood.
