Why Live Music Can Be So Good for Your Mental Health
Not only can concerts and festivals be a lot of fun (unless they aren't really your thing), but attending a live music event can have benefits to your mental health. Attending concerts and festivals certainly can be a privilege (given the hefty price tag at times), but here are some of the benefits if you are able to go to an event in the future:
#1 - Live Music Offers a Form of Escapism
With all of the craziness that life can throw at us, it feels good to take a break and escape when we can.
#2-Increased Feelings of Happiness & Wellbeing
According to a study conducted by researchers at Deakin University in Australia, researchers had found that people who regularly attend live music events have higher feelings of wellbeing.
“The findings revealed that engaging with music by dancing or attending musical events was associated with a higher (sense of well-being) than for those who did not engage with music in these forms,” the study had reported.
#3 - Sense of Connection to Others & Community
Feeling connected to others and having a sense of community is an important part of one's mental health. It is actually listed as one of the psychological human needs by Abraham Maslow. There is just something about being at a live music event belting your heart out with thousands of other people that feels so good.
#4 - Reduce Stress
Researchers had found in a study the decrease of cortisol and other stress hormones in participants after attending a concert.
#5 - Pain Relief
When you are listening to music that you love, the brain releases endorphins which are neurotransmitters that block pain.
#6 - Some Protection Against Cognitive Decline
While actually playing a musical instrument offers the greatest level of neuroprotection, research has highlighted that listing to music has beneficial effects for cognitive functioning.
With all of this in mind, who do you want to see in concert next?
Sources
Balbag MA, Pedersen NL, Gatz M (2014) Playing a Musical Instrument as a Protective Factor against Dementia and Cognitive Impairment: A Population-Based Twin Study. International Journal of Alzheimer's Disease 2014, 6.
Weinberg, M. K., & Joseph, D. (2016). If you’re happy and you know it: Music engagement and subjective wellbeing. Psychology of Music, 45(2), 257–267. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735616659552