Psychophysiological responses of anxiety or stress to auditory changes in musical characteristics

Abstract

Anxiety and stress are both widely experienced responses, which has been linked to reductions in well-being, daily functioning, as well as the development of psychological disorders when unregulated and experienced chronically (Nutt et al., 2008). Both anxiety and stress cause arousal, thereby sharing similar physiological and psychological responses (Shahsavarani et al., 2015). Music therapy is a treatment method often used to quell stress and anxious responses, which is rooted in the physiological and psychological impact of music. This physiological and psychological impact is often attributed to auditory changes in musical characteristics, such as changes in pitch, tempo, intensity and timbre, which has effects on both mood and autonomic arousal (Arjmand et al., 2017). The present study used a scoping review to collate and summarise the breadth of information available about musical characteristics and auditory changes that affect both the physiological and psychological components of stress and anxious responses. A combined and adapted scoping review design outlined by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) and Levac et al. (2010) was used in the present study. The addition of a data extraction tool (framework used from Bussiek et al. (2018)) was part of the adaptations to the outlined methodology, as well as the final stage of the process being a review of rigor. The current study found that there are 21 relevant studies that fit the scope of the research, which indicated that recent research is limited and that no local South African research had occurred. Final conclusions show that further research to expand the scope of recent research and to clear up contradictions in the literature is necessary.