Watching live music can help reduce the levels of stress hormones in gig goers, a new study has revealed.
The research, from the Royal College of Music’s (RCM) Centre for Performance Science, measured the levels of stress hormone in the saliva of more than 100 attendees at two concerts from classical composer Eric Whitacre.
Samples were taken from members of the audience before, during and after the show.
Findings from the study showed that there was a lower stress level of the hormones after the event.
Researchers Daisy Fancourt and Aaron Williamon from Imperial College London and RCM write in the journal Public Health: 'This is the first preliminary evidence that attending a cultural event can have an impact on endocrine activity and down-regulate stress.
‘These results are in line with 22 previous studies showing that listening to music in the controlled setting of either a laboratory or a hospital can reduce cortisol levels.’
‘This study opens up the question of how engaging with music and the arts in cultural settings can influence biological and psychological states and, consequently, the potential of cultural events to enhance people’s broader health and wellbeing.’
The researchers noted that none of the biological changes were impacted by age, musical experience of knowledge of the music performed.
Read more on the findings from the survey.
The research, from the Royal College of Music’s (RCM) Centre for Performance Science, measured the levels of stress hormone in the saliva of more than 100 attendees at two concerts from classical composer Eric Whitacre.
Samples were taken from members of the audience before, during and after the show.
Findings from the study showed that there was a lower stress level of the hormones after the event.
Researchers Daisy Fancourt and Aaron Williamon from Imperial College London and RCM write in the journal Public Health: 'This is the first preliminary evidence that attending a cultural event can have an impact on endocrine activity and down-regulate stress.
‘These results are in line with 22 previous studies showing that listening to music in the controlled setting of either a laboratory or a hospital can reduce cortisol levels.’
‘This study opens up the question of how engaging with music and the arts in cultural settings can influence biological and psychological states and, consequently, the potential of cultural events to enhance people’s broader health and wellbeing.’
The researchers noted that none of the biological changes were impacted by age, musical experience of knowledge of the music performed.
Read more on the findings from the survey.
