Perceptions of Stress and Mood Associated With Listening to Music in Daily Life During the COVID-19 Lockdown.

Feneberg, AC; Stijovic, A; Forbes, PAG; Lamm, C; Piperno, G; Pronizius, E; Silani, G; Nater, UM

Abstract

IMPORTANCE - OBJECTIVE - DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS - EXPOSURES - MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES - RESULTS - CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE; Music listening is a universal human experience. People of all ages and cultures often use music to reduce stress and improve mood, particularly in times of crisis. However, ecologically valid research examining the real-time association of music listening with stress and mood during the COVID-19 pandemic is scarce.; To explore the associations between listening to music and the perceptions of stress and mood using ecological momentary assessment during the COVID-19 lockdown period.; In this cohort study conducted between April 1 and May 8, 2020, adults from the general population residing in Austria and Italy were prompted by an app on their smartphone to report data 5 times per day across 7 consecutive days. Participants provided data on their real-time and real-life experiences in their natural environment while strict lockdown measures were in place. Data analysis was performed from March 2021 to February 2022.; Data on self-reported music listening were recorded by means of mobile-based assessments. Perceived chronic stress was assessed once at the end of the study.; Perceptions of momentary stress and mood were measured using visual analog scales (score range, 0-100, where 0 indicates not at all and 100 indicates very much) by means of mobile app-based assessments.; The final sample comprised 711 participants (497 women [69.9%]; median age, 27.0 years [IQR, 24.0-36.0 years]). Participants provided a total of 19 641 data points, including 4677 music listening reports. Music listening was prospectively associated with lower momentary stress levels (β, -0.92; 95% CI, -1.80 to -0.04; P = .04) and improvements in mood valence (β, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.17-2.63; P