The Influence of Sound on Stress, Anxiety, and Mood

The Influence of Man-made and Natural Sounds on Stress, Anxiety, and Mood

Multiple studies have highlighted music's ability to evoke diverse emotional states. Past research reveals that factors like musical elements, and the environment impact how people respond emotionally to music. For instance, faster tempos tend to heighten arousal, while minor key compositions evoke more arousal compared to major key compositions. In efforts to induce specific emotions post-stress, the research found that both pleasant and sad music aided stress recovery. Similarly, other researchers noted that positively rated music was more effective in reducing stress than negatively rated music, especially low arousal compositions over high arousal ones. Several studies focused on applying music to reduce stress and anxiety. In addition to man-made musical tones, the positive impact of natural surroundings on emotional state has been widely explored. A psycho-evolutionary viewpoint was offered, suggesting that humans have evolved in natural settings, making us inherently attuned to them physically and psychologically. A non-threatening natural environment, rich in aesthetically pleasing elements like visible escape routes, greenery, and water, tends to reduce stress and generate interest. In this study, the researchers are exploring how different sounds-man-made instrumental music versus natural sounds-affect stress, anxiety, and mood among the students of Medgar Evers College. Using an experimental approach, the researchers will assess pretest stress levels (via the perceived stress scale (PSS), anxiety (generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), and mood (four-dimensional mood scale (4DMS) among a sample of students. After randomly dividing them into two groups, each group will listen to one of the designated sounds (man-made music or nature sounds) for 30 minutes daily over 15 days. The researchers will then have them retake the stress, anxiety, and mood scales for post-test comparison. Statistical analysis (mixed ANOVA) will help to compare scores within and between groups. Ultimately, this study aims to determine the influence of tonal input on stress and anxiety levels among students, crucial given the significant stress they often experience.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Man-made sounds; Behavioral: Natural sounds

Detailed Description

Numerous studies have highlighted music's capacity to elicit a wide range of emotions. Previous research suggests that various factors, including musical elements and environmental context, influence people's emotional responses to music. For instance, quicker tempos generally heighten arousal, while compositions in minor keys tend to evoke more arousal compared to major key compositions. In post-stress emotion induction attempts, it was discovered that both pleasant and sad music aided in stress recovery. Similarly, it was observed that positively rated music was more effective in reducing stress, especially compositions with lower arousal compared to those with higher arousal. Several studies have explored the use of music to reduce stress and anxiety.

Moreover, the positive impact of natural surroundings on well-being has been extensively investigated. A psycho-evolutionary perspective was proposed, suggesting that humans have evolved in natural settings, making us inherently attuned to them both physically and psychologically. A non-threatening natural environment, featuring aesthetically pleasing elements like visible escape routes, greenery, and water, tends to decrease stress levels and generate interest.

The study focuses on exploring how different sounds-man-made instrumental music versus natural sounds-affect stress, anxiety, and mood among students at Medgar Evers College.

The research aims to address the following questions:

• Can man-made instrumental relaxing music reduce stress and anxiety levels?
• Does man-made instrumental relaxing music induce a positive change in mood?
• Can relaxing nature sounds reduce stress and anxiety levels?
• Does relaxing nature sounds induce a positive change in mood?
• Is one of the two sound samples more effective than the other?

Ultimately, this study aims to identify the most effective method for reducing stress and anxiety among students, which is particularly important considering the significant stress levels they often encounter.

The findings will be presented at national or international psychology conventions.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Sumeyra Tosun; Phone Number: 4704185814; Email: stosun@mec.cuny.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being a student at Medgar Evers College, CUNY
• Being 18 years old or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having hearing problems

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Man-made sounds; Participants who listen to man-made sounds (music)	Behavioral: Man-made sounds; Participants will be asked to listen to the assigned sounds (relaxing music) for 30 minutes a day for 15 days.
Experimental: Natural sounds; Participants who listen to natural sounds (e.g., ocean, birds, rain)	Behavioral: Natural sounds; Participants will be asked to listen to the assigned sounds (birds, ocean, wind) for 30 minutes a day for 15 days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Stress	Measured by Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Individual scores on the PSS can range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.	15 days
Anxiety	Measured by General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). The outcome of the questionnaire is reported as a score between 0 and 21 with 0 indicating no anxiety and 21 indicating the highest level of anxiety.	15 days
Mood	Measured by Four Dimension Mood Scale (4DMS), It is designed to measure positive energy (4 items-minimum score is 4 and maximum score is 20), tiredness (5 items, minimum score is 5 and maximum score is 25), negative activation (6 items-minimum score is 6 and maximum score is 30), and relaxation (5 items-minimum score is 5 and maximum score is 25). Higher scores indicate greater appearance of the corresponding mood.	15 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Medgar Evers College, The City University of New York
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sumeyra Tosun, Medgar Evers College

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Ulrich RS. Effects of interior design on wellness: theory and recent scientific research. J Health Care Inter Des. 1991;3:97-109.
• Sokhadze EM. Effects of music on the recovery of autonomic and electrocortical activity after stress induced by aversive visual stimuli. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2007 Mar;32(1):31-50. doi: 10.1007/s10484-007-9033-y.
• van der Zwaag MD, Dijksterhuis C, de Waard D, Mulder BL, Westerink JH, Brookhuis KA. The influence of music on mood and performance while driving. Ergonomics. 2012;55(1):12-22. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2011.638403.
• Wang J, Qiu X, Kulkarni A, Hauer-Jensen M. Calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P regulate the intestinal radiation response. Clin Cancer Res. 2006 Jul 1;12(13):4112-8. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-06-0592.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 28, 2024
• First Posted (Estimated): March 4, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): March 4, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 28, 2024
• Last Verified: February 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: Pending (Clinical Research Information Service)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No