The short-term impact of music interventions on stress: Results of a multinational cluster-randomized trial using salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase assessments in care home residents with dementia

Autor(en)

Naomi L. Rasing, Sarah I.M. Janus, Annemieke C. Vink, Ulrike A.S. Frischen, Johanna Neuser, Jo Dugstad Wake, Nadine Skoluda, Vigdis Sveinsdottir, Monika Geretsegger, Elias Langeland, Gunter Kreutz, Christian Gold, Urs Markus Nater, Sytse U. Zuidema

Abstrakt

Stress can have a negative impact on well-being and quality of life in people with dementia. Our study explored the effect of music as a potentially stress-reducing strategy in care home residents with dementia and depression of 25 care home units included in the multinational cluster-randomized controlled trial Music Interventions for Dementia and Depression in Elderly care (MIDDEL). Methods: Group music therapy consisted of singing well-known songs and reminiscence in small groups, optionally improvising on instruments and moving to music. Choir singing consisted of rehearsing well-known and new songs in larger groups of 10 + participants. During month 1, 3, and 6, saliva samples were collected 10 min before and 15 and 60 min after a session of group music therapy (n = 55), recreational choir singing (n = 72) or a book reading (n = 56) in 183 care home residents, along with a stress visual analogue scale. Results: Of 1014 saliva samples collected, 671 (66 %) were valid for alpha-amylase assay and 633 samples (62 %) for cortisol assay. Significant pre/post session changes were found for salivary cortisol, alpha-amylase, and subjective stress within study arms, although no significant difference was found between study arms. Conclusion: Group interventions, including music therapy, can have a positive impact on stress levels in care home residents with dementia. The level or intensity of participation required from the person with dementia may play a role in the impact of music on stress. Findings indicate it is feasible to collect saliva in persons with dementia non-invasively. Future studies in this population should consider strategies to improve validity of data, such as stimulating saliva flow.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Klinische und Gesundheitspsychologie, Institut für Psychologie der Kognition, Emotion und Methoden

Externe Organisation(en)

Research Platform “The Stress of Life (SOLE) - Processes and Mechanisms underlying Everyday Life Stress”, University of Groningen, ArtEZ University of the Arts, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre AS, University of Bergen (UiB), Statoil ASA

Journal

Psychoneuroendocrinology

Band

182

Anzahl der Seiten

11

ISSN

0306-4530

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107640

Publikationsdatum

10-2025

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

501010 Klinische Psychologie

Schlagwörter

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/00cf89f2-ab3f-4464-abcf-2cf95ca8bc8e