A recent study has shown that something as simple as listening to music can help reduce anxiety. Researchers say that just 24 minutes of the right kind of music can make a clear difference in how a person feels. The findings suggest an easy and low-effort way for people to manage anxiety symptoms.
The research was published in the journal PLOS Mental Health and was carried out by scientists from Toronto Metropolitan University. The study included 144 participants who were experiencing moderate anxiety, and the researchers wanted to see how different types of sound and different listening times affected their mental health.
During the study, the participants were divided into several groups. Some people listened to pink noise, which sounds similar to rain or ocean waves, for 24 minutes. Others listened to auditory beat stimulation (ABS) music for different lengths of time, including 12 minutes, 24 minutes, and 36 minutes.
The results showed that ABS music worked better than pink noise in improving both mental and physical symptoms related to anxiety. Researchers also found that 24 minutes was the most effective listening time. It produced better results than shorter sessions of 12 minutes as well as longer sessions of 36 minutes.
The study suggests that listening to the right type of music for a short period each day could be a simple and helpful way for people to feel calmer and reduce anxiety symptoms.
