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  • © 2014

Psychological Health Effects of Musical Experiences

Theories, Studies and Reflections in Music Health Science

Authors:

  • Clearly describes musical effects on health and their significance in society
  • Combines the fields of music research and stress research
  • Is written in an accessible, personal style by a researching physician with broad musical experience
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Psychology (BRIEFSPSYCHOL)

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-v
  2. Introduction

    • Töres Theorell
    Pages 1-8
  3. Stress and Music

    • Töres Theorell
    Pages 9-16
  4. Music in Social Cohesion

    • Töres Theorell
    Pages 17-27
  5. Music in Religion

    • Töres Theorell
    Pages 29-32
  6. Music in Treatment

    • Töres Theorell
    Pages 49-61
  7. What Happens in the Body During Singing?

    • Töres Theorell
    Pages 63-77
  8. Singing Together

    • Töres Theorell
    Pages 79-86
  9. Growing up with Music

    • Töres Theorell
    Pages 87-94
  10. Final Thoughts

    • Töres Theorell
    Pages 103-106

About this book

This book is about links between music and health. It focuses on music and public health, and, in particular, the potentially positive and negative effects of listening to and making music on the health of the general population. The book starts out by discussing the protection music offers against adverse effects of stress. It then discusses social aspects of music production and listening and examines religious music within the framework of social functioning. It offers insight into the physiological and psychological effects of music listening, the biological effects of singing, and the use of music in therapeutic situations and the rearing of children. The book concludes by discussing the significance of music for musicians and their health. Although it may seem that music has only good health effects, and therefore all professional musicians should be healthy, not all music effects are positive. The book describes situations in which music has negative health effects and makesclear that there is a pronounced difference between living with music for joy and to earn one´s living from making music. In the latter situation, performance anxiety may become a factor that affects health adversely.

Reviews

“He discusses a range of the research-based evidence of the effects of musical participation upon health, including some of his own studies. … This discussion of the myriad benefits of music during human development, and its contribution to our holistic wellbeing and social integration, provides a wealth of evidence which may be useful in several practical contexts … . This book is a useful resource for anyone with an interest in music and wellbeing.” (Michael Bonshor, Arts Health Early Career Research Network Blog, artshealthecrn.com, August, 2018)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Töres Theorell

About the author

Tores Theorell is a physician who was serving in internal medicine in the years 1967-1978. From 1979 he has been a researcher in stress medicine and social medicine. Between 1995 and 2006 he served as director of the Swedish National Institute for Psychosocial Factors and Health and was also a professor at the Karolinska Institute during this period. As a retired professor he presently serves as scientific consultant for the Institute for Stress Research at the Stockholm University and is active at the department of Neuro Science at the Karolinska Institute. Theorell´s research has had diversity from epidemiology to clinical observational studies and controlled interventions. Since the mid 1980:s he has also published in the area of Cultural Participation and Health. Theorell has been first author or co-author of more than 400 original publications in international peer reviewed scientific journals. He has also contributed chapters to numerous handbooks and textbooks in English. Hehas for instance contributed to the Oxford University Press Handbook of Culture and Health (eds Clift, Camic, Wilson, in press 2014). His most widely quoted publication was with Robert Karasek (Karasek and Theorell: Healthy Work, Basic Books, New York, 1990). Physiological stress mechanisms relating to cardiovascular disease has been one of Theorell´s most prominent areas.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Psychological Health Effects of Musical Experiences

  • Book Subtitle: Theories, Studies and Reflections in Music Health Science

  • Authors: Töres Theorell

  • Series Title: SpringerBriefs in Psychology

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8920-2

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science, Behavioral Science and Psychology (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Author(s) 2014

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-94-017-8919-6Published: 05 May 2014

  • eBook ISBN: 978-94-017-8920-2Published: 18 April 2014

  • Series ISSN: 2192-8363

  • Series E-ISSN: 2192-8371

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: V, 106

  • Number of Illustrations: 17 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Health Psychology, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access