article
A survey investigation of the effects of music listening on chronic pain
Laura A. Mitchell
Raymond A.R. MacDonald
Christina Knussen
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, GLASGOW CALEDONIAN UNIVERSITY
Michael G. Serpell
UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ANAESTHESIA, GARTNAVEL HOSPITAL, GLASGOW
Research interest into alternatives to analgesic medication has grown
substantially during the past two decades. Moreover, a number of
studies have provided empirical evidence that music listening, and in
particular listening to our own preferred music, may provide an
emotionally engaging distraction capable of reducing both the
sensation of pain itself and the accompanying negative affective
experience. The current study is a survey of 318 chronic pain
sufferers, which aimed to (i) give a detailed description of the music
listening behaviour of this group and relate this to experience of
pain and quality of life, and (ii) indicate the numbers who consider
music listening to be part of their pain management and investigate
their perceptions of the benefits. Results indicated distraction and
relaxation to be the most frequently perceived benefits of music
reported by participants. Both frequent music listening and a
perception of music as personally important were further found to
relate to higher quality of life. Also, personal importance of music
was significantly related to listening to help pain. These findings
suggest beneficial effects of music listening to long-term pain.
Psychology of Music, Vol. 35, No. 1, 37-57 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0305735607068887
© 2007 Society for Education, Music, and Psychology Research
Laura A. Mitchell
Raymond A.R. MacDonald
Christina Knussen
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, GLASGOW CALEDONIAN UNIVERSITY
Michael G. Serpell
UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ANAESTHESIA, GARTNAVEL HOSPITAL, GLASGOW
Research interest into alternatives to analgesic medication has grown
substantially during the past two decades. Moreover, a number of
studies have provided empirical evidence that music listening, and in
particular listening to our own preferred music, may provide an
emotionally engaging distraction capable of reducing both the
sensation of pain itself and the accompanying negative affective
experience. The current study is a survey of 318 chronic pain
sufferers, which aimed to (i) give a detailed description of the music
listening behaviour of this group and relate this to experience of
pain and quality of life, and (ii) indicate the numbers who consider
music listening to be part of their pain management and investigate
their perceptions of the benefits. Results indicated distraction and
relaxation to be the most frequently perceived benefits of music
reported by participants. Both frequent music listening and a
perception of music as personally important were further found to
relate to higher quality of life. Also, personal importance of music
was significantly related to listening to help pain. These findings
suggest beneficial effects of music listening to long-term pain.
Psychology of Music, Vol. 35, No. 1, 37-57 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0305735607068887
© 2007 Society for Education, Music, and Psychology Research