I.

Music as Intervention to Reduce Anxiety in Different Settings

Music is suggested, specifically Pop Music, as an effective intervention to reduce symptoms of

anxiety (Huang, Z., & Duell, N., 2020). Listening to music helps the listener to relax and uplifts
their emotions. Stated in a study of O’ Hagan (2016), 70.1% of females and 78.8% of males feel
happy when listening to music. In addition, a study made by Wu, S. M. (2002), after an eight-
week intervention period, followed-up by a nine-month intervention period, music has
decreased the depression, anxiety, and distress of the therapy participants. This intervention
also dealt with the social, emotional, cognitive, developmental, and physical areas.

Music is also used as an intervention in medical setting. A study made by Ventura, T., et. al.
(2012) said that a thirty (30) minute listening, which is also a relaxing period, likely have a
positive effect on a pregnant woman’s cortisol and anxiety response. In a different scenario,
music is also used to reduce the anxiety of patients waiting for a dental treatment. Thoma, M.
V., et. al. (2014) said that patients listening to music for 10 minutes is effectively reducing
anxiety rather than the patients waiting in silence. On the other hand, classical music, as it is
seen to elicit mental alertness, is used in operating theaters to improve the operating room
staff’s performances (Kacem, I., et. al., 2020).

II. Music Intervention is a Subject of Debate

Though as stated above that music intervention has positive effects, it is still a subject of debate
(Kacem, I., et. al., 2020). Firstly, as Huang, Z., & Duell, N. (2020) stated that pop music has
positive effect, without an empirically supported standard, it cannot guarantee the listener’s
mental health or can cause more harm. Secondly, Umbrello, M., et. al., (2019) found that music
is an inexpensive and easy to administer intervention with no adverse effects to both patients
who are mechanically ventilated and those who are not. However, it is still a non-pharmacologic
intervention which is rarely observed in practice. Lastly, Osmanoğlu, D. E., & Yilmaz, H. (2019)
concludes in their study that music has both positive and negative effects. It can have
therapeutic effects on various mental illnesses; however, listeners must be informed to what
kind of music they prefer to listen to as it can produce a negative effect on them.