Using Music to Manage Anxiety: A Mixed Methods Intervention Study Between Two Lockdowns

Lockdowns were a central strategy for managing the outbreak of COVID-19, and Melbourne, Australia had some of the most extensive restrictions globally during 2021. As a result, university students were faced with isolated living and challenging learning experiences. This pilot study occurred during 2021, close to both university assignment due dates and end of semester examinations and some of the longest lockdowns. Seventy-one participants responded to recruitment materials describing using music playlists to manage anxiety and avoid negative thinking patterns during stressful times. They then participated in a 1-hour live, virtual workshop incorporating didactic teaching and practice activities. Pre and post measures of musical engagement, wellbeing and anxiety were used, with additional qualitative data collected at post regarding the workshop, application of ideas, and quantitative data measuring uses of music for emotion regulation. Analysis of quantitative data did not reveal significant findings, but convergent analysis suggested patterns linking degree of anxiety with changed uses of music for regulation for some individuals. Participants described more intentional and informed uses of music that were less repetitive and more targeted. This was particularly apparent when rumination appeared to be prominent. Based on the results, the intervention seems most helpful as a psycho-educational tool, but the 1-hour workshop did not result in measurable changes for highly anxious participants.