Paper/Poster Title
The Short Term Effects of Music on Stress, Heart Rate, and Blood Pressure
Advisor(s)
Rema Suniga, PhD
Ohio Northern University
Biological Sciences, Science, Technology, and Mathematics
r-suniga@onu.edu
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Start Date
22-4-2022 10:00 AM
End Date
22-4-2022 11:00 AM
Abstract
Music has been used throughout history to improve mood, reduce pain, stress and panic. College students’ stress levels have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic hit possibly indicating a decline in mental health. This study investigated the effect of music on stress level, heart rate and blood pressure of (18-25 years old) college students (N=8). First, participants rested for 5 minutes in silence. Second, each completed a pre-stress questionnaire and had his/her resting heart rate (bpm) and blood pressure (mm Hg) taken with a Rite Aid Automatic Blood Pressure Cuff. Next, participants listened to 15 min of music (classical, silence, or music of choice) at 60-85 decibel (dB) through a 2019 Apple MacBook. Finally, the participants completed the post-stress questionnaire and had his/her heart rate and blood pressure taken. ANOVA tests showed that the three music groups did not differ significantly in their stress level, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure, all parameters expressed as a percent change post-exposure. However, there was a general trend to where the stress levels decreased for the majority of participants. Thus, in this study music did not decrease stress level, heart rate, nor mean arterial pressure in college age students.
Key words: Music, Stress, Heart Rate, Mean Arterial Pressure
Recommended Citation
Extine, Erica; Gorsuch, Myeerah; and Miller, Meredith, "The Short Term Effects of Music on Stress, Heart Rate, and Blood Pressure" (2022). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 53.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2022/posters/53
Restricted
Available to ONU community via local IP address and ONU login.
The Short Term Effects of Music on Stress, Heart Rate, and Blood Pressure
ONU McIntosh Center; Activities Room
Music has been used throughout history to improve mood, reduce pain, stress and panic. College students’ stress levels have increased since the COVID-19 pandemic hit possibly indicating a decline in mental health. This study investigated the effect of music on stress level, heart rate and blood pressure of (18-25 years old) college students (N=8). First, participants rested for 5 minutes in silence. Second, each completed a pre-stress questionnaire and had his/her resting heart rate (bpm) and blood pressure (mm Hg) taken with a Rite Aid Automatic Blood Pressure Cuff. Next, participants listened to 15 min of music (classical, silence, or music of choice) at 60-85 decibel (dB) through a 2019 Apple MacBook. Finally, the participants completed the post-stress questionnaire and had his/her heart rate and blood pressure taken. ANOVA tests showed that the three music groups did not differ significantly in their stress level, heart rate, and mean arterial pressure, all parameters expressed as a percent change post-exposure. However, there was a general trend to where the stress levels decreased for the majority of participants. Thus, in this study music did not decrease stress level, heart rate, nor mean arterial pressure in college age students.
Key words: Music, Stress, Heart Rate, Mean Arterial Pressure