Effects of Slow Music on Selected Stress Biomarkers among Stressful Young Individuals

Music is the combination of harmony of melody and rhythm. Music listening have been associated with decrease of physiological arousal, heart rate, blood pressure and reduction of cortisol levels. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures have been advocated to minimize the development of stress related diseases. Relaxation techniques and listening to music can prevent cardiovascular complications. Music can affect central and autonomic nervous system as well as endocrine system. This experimental study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Chittagong Medical College, Chattagram, Bangladesh from January 2020 to December 2021. Total 60 subjects of first year MBBS, with equal number of male and female, studying in Chittagong Medical College, Chattagram, were included by stratified random sampling method according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. A questionnaire along with general information about previous diseases, medical and family history were filled up by the subjects. Stress biomarkers- systolic and diastolic blood pressure, perceived stress scale (PSS) score and serum cortisol were recorded before and after 15 minutes of music intervention for 15 days. Result was compiled and compared after data collection by using SPSS 25.0. Paired 't' tests were done to compare differences between pre and post-intervention values of different outcome parameters. P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Stress biomarkers- systolic and diastolic blood pressure, perceived stress scale (PSS) score and serum cortisol were significantly reduced after 15 days music intervention. This study concludes that regular listening to slow music causes significant reduction of stress and improvement of cardiorespiratory endurance and quality of life.