Halfway down South Walnut Street, hell’s bells ring in my ears. That dwindling beep of my AirPods dying pains me. I forgot to charge my AirPods, and my mood sank.
The Student Mental Health Struggle
The Healthy Mind Survey, which includes data from West Chester University, reports that 19% of students experience severe depression symptoms and studied students’ poor health behaviors and lifestyle. Now, I don’t have the cure for my fellow students, but perhaps there is a physical tool hidden in our headphones that can make our days easier.
Music as a Mood Booster
Research shows music can improve mood, sharpen focus, and even reduce anxiety. Music always makes my walk to campus much less dreadful. Your morning commute plays an important role in establishing your emotions for the rest of the day.
Illustration highlighting information provided by the NLM on the transformative power of music.
Rewiring the Brain Through Song
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to undertake functional and structural modifications in response to experience. This basically means that with an active force, such as music, we can physically and chemically change our brains. To translate– starting your day with your preferred music will significantly improve your mood.
The Science Behind the Sounds
There is a science behind all of this. When music hits your ears, it turns into electrical signals that lights up a network of regions that handle memory, emotion, attention, even the urge to tap your foot. A song you really like will release dopamine, much like eating your favorite meal does. Studies show that music-evoked pleasure lets cerebral blood flow register in brain regions associated with reward, motivation, arousal, and emotions. These regions are similarly activated by stimuli such as food, drugs, and sex. A specific study registered the release of dopamine at the peak of emotional arousal when listening to one’s preferred song. Scientists agree with these ideas that it’s your own personal music taste that’ll improve your mood.
Music as Medicine
Music can also be classified as a type of medicine. Music medicine studies have concluded that music interventions can provide an alternative to sedatives. Studies show that music can reduce pain, emotional distress, and anxiety due to activating the endogenous opioid system. There are even health benefits to listening to music, like improving depression symptoms and insomnia. A 2013 study of 2,051 participants showed that listening to music significantly reduced anxiety in people who were waiting to have surgery. In another study, when a painful stimulus was applied to volunteers under control conditions while listening to their favorite songs, they reported lower pain rating scores.
Illustration highlighting information about music’s positive impacts on coping with various health issues, provided by the NIH on Music and Health.
Stress-Free Solution for Students
For students, the impact can be just as remarkable. Between academic pressure, social demands, and financial strain, it’s near impossible to not stress. On a campus like West Chester, the little things that make you happy matter. Pressing play on a playlist requires nothing but your ears and time. For example, if you have a big test coming up and wake up with incredible nerves, music may be a helpful way to help you mentally prepare.
Press Play on Positivity
Some mornings in West Chester, it can really be a struggle to get out of bed. However, picking up the phone and clicking play on your favorite playlist can deeply impact your day. For students battling stress, music can become your most accessible tool on campus. Now make sure that your airpods are charged and get ready to greet the morning with your favorite song.
