The Effect of Music Listening on Athletes' Anxiety, Depression, and Pain: A Mini Review

Abstract

Athletes are at risk for a wide range of psychological and physical disorders due to the stressors and injuries associated with sports. Anxiety, depression, and pain are the most frequent disorders, and they can all have a severe impact on an athlete's performance and potential career. This review has shown that several studies have demonstrated that listening to music, especially motivational and relaxing music, before, during, and after sports can be an emotionally engaging distraction that can help reduce negative emotions, the feeling of pain, as well as the accompanying negative affective experience. This mini review lays the groundwork for understanding how listening to music affects athletes, making it a non-invasive and less expensive way to treat anxiety, depression, and pain caused by sports.