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What works for wellbeing? A systematic review of wellbeing outcomes for music and singing in adults

Daykin, Norma; Mansfield, Louise; Meads, Catherine; Julier, Guy; Tomlinson, Alan; Payne, Annette; Grigsby Duffy, Lily; Lane, Jack; D�Innocenzo, Giorgia; Burnett, Adele; Kay, Tess; Dolan, Paul; Testoni, Stefano; Victor, Christina

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Authors

Norma Daykin

Louise Mansfield

Catherine Meads

Guy Julier

Alan Tomlinson

Annette Payne

Lily Grigsby Duffy

Jack Lane

Giorgia D�Innocenzo

Adele Burnett

Tess Kay

Paul Dolan

Stefano Testoni

Christina Victor



Abstract

Aims: The role of arts and music in supporting subjective wellbeing (SWB) is increasingly recognised. Robust evidence is needed to support policy and practice. This article reports on the first of four reviews of Culture, Sport and Wellbeing (CSW) commissioned by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)-funded What Works Centre for Wellbeing (https://whatworkswellbeing.org/). Objective: To identify SWB outcomes for music and singing in adults. Methods: Comprehensive literature searches were conducted in PsychInfo, Medline, ERIC, Arts and Humanities, Social Science and Science Citation Indexes, Scopus, PILOTS and CINAHL databases. From 5,397 records identified, 61 relevant records were assessed using GRADE and CERQual schema. Results: A wide range of wellbeing measures was used, with no consistency in how SWB was measured across the studies. A wide range of activities was reported, most commonly music listening and regular group singing. Music has been associated with reduced anxiety in young adults, enhanced mood and purpose in adults and mental wellbeing, quality of life, self-awareness and coping in people with diagnosed health conditions. Music and singing have been shown to be effective in enhancing morale and reducing risk of depression in older people. Few studies address SWB in people with dementia. While there are a few studies of music with marginalised communities, participants in community choirs tend to be female, white and relatively well educated. Research challenges include recruiting participants with baseline wellbeing scores that are low enough to record any significant or noteworthy change following a music or singing intervention. Conclusions: There is reliable evidence for positive effects of music and singing on wellbeing in adults. There remains a need for research with sub-groups who are at greater risk of lower levels of wellbeing, and on the processes by which wellbeing outcomes are, or are not, achieved.

Journal Article Type Review
Acceptance Date Sep 8, 2016
Online Publication Date Nov 13, 2017
Publication Date Jan 1, 2018
Deposit Date Jul 18, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jul 19, 2022
Journal Perspectives in Public Health
Print ISSN 1757-9139
Electronic ISSN 1757-9147
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 138
Issue 1
Pages 39-46
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/1757913917740391
Keywords music; singing; systematic review; wellbeing; depression; older people
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9708172
Publisher URL https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1757913917740391

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