| Title | Changes in mood, oxytocin, and cortisol following group and individual singing: A pilot study |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2022 |
| Authors | Good A, Russo FA |
| Journal | Psychology of Music |
| Volume | 50 |
| Pagination | 1340-1347 |
| Abstract | Group singing elevates mood, increases social bonding, and regulates stress. However, the question remains as to how much of the singer’s mood-boost is derived from social aspects of group singing and how much can be achieved through singing alone. In the current study, we adopted a sociobiological approach to investigate the underpinnings of the mood-boosting effect of singing. Using a within-subjects design, self-report mood, salivary oxytocin, and salivary cortisol were assessed before and after group and individual singing conditions. This study uncovered several important findings: group singing elevated mood, whereas individual singing did not. Importantly, although both group and individual singing led to decreases in cortisol, only group singing led to increases in oxytocin. Further analysis revealed that oxytocin, but not cortisol, significantly correlated with mood. These findings suggest that the mood-boosting effect of singing is likely due to social aspects and is influenced by changes in oxytocin. |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1177/03057356211042668 |
| DOI | 10.1177/03057356211042668 |
The Sound Health Network is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with the University of California, San Francisco, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Renée Fleming.