The Impact of Relaxing Music on Stress: An empirical approach highlighting the musical effects on objective and subjective stress parameters

Abstract

The predominating influence of stress in modern times, has imposed devitalizing biological and emotional implications, recommending widely accepted and accessible coping solutions. Music, a creative medium has permeated into human culture offering various functions, including stress reduction. This study aimed to discover the relationship between music and its hold on stress through perceived and observed measures of Skin Conductance, Heart Rate, and BVP Amplitude. Also, the affective and hedonic responses to the music were recorded. Ratings from sixty-two participants were collected on exposure to six music conditions and a silence control condition. Repeated measures ANOVA and paired-sample t-tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of music conditions on both subjective and objective stress measures. The findings accentuate music as a promising technique to combat with stressful situations and implications, recommending effective and accessible management strategies. Music significantly reduces stress through its influence on both subjective perception and physiological responses. Statistical analysis revealed that participants showed increased heart rate and skin conductance after listening to Shape of You. Weightless and Silence portrayed the highest reduction in subjective stress while Bagel was assessed as the most pleasant song among the lot. This study further underscores the utility of music as a therapeutic and practical intervention, offering a foundation for future research and real-world applications in stress management.