A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Music Interventions to Improve Sleep in Adults With Mental Health Problems
Journal
European Psychiatry
Year
2024
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Music listening has been used as a sleep intervention among different populations. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore whether music is an effective sleep aid in adults with mental health problems. METHODS: We searched for studies investigating music interventions for sleep in adults with mental health problems. The primary outcome was subjective sleep quality; secondary outcomes were objective sleep outcomes, quality of life, and other mental health symptoms. Risk of bias assessment (RoB1) and random-effect model were used for the systematic review and meta-analyses. RESULTS: The initial screening (n = 1492) resulted in 15 studies in the systematic review. Further qualified studies led to the meta-analysis of sleep quality (n = 7), depression (n = 5), and anxiety (n = 5). We found that the music listening intervention showed a potential effect on subjective sleep quality improvement compared to treatment-as-usual or no-intervention groups. When excluding an outlier study with an extreme effect, the meta-analysis showed a moderate effect on sleep quality (Hedges' g = -0.66, 95% CI [-1.19, -0.13], t = -3.21, p = 0.0236). The highest risk of bias was the blinding of participants and researchers due to the nature of the music intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that music interventions could have the potential to improve sleep quality among individuals with mental health problems, even though more high-quality studies are needed to establish the effect fully.
Music and Health Institute Terms
Sleep Quality; Mental Health; Psychological Outcomes; Wellness and Well-Being
Indexed Terms
Mental Disorders; Sleep Quality; Sleep Wake Disorders; anxiety; depression; meta-analysis; sleep; systematic review
Study Type
Systematic Review
PubMed ID
PMID: 39373544 PMCID: PMC11536203
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Zhao, N., Lund, H. N., & Jespersen, K. V. (2024). A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Music Interventions to Improve Sleep in Adults With Mental Health Problems. European Psychiatry, 67 (1) Retrieved from https://remix.berklee.edu/mhi-citations/1752