Abstract
This study explored the possible beneficial effects of singing on well-being during a singing lesson. Eight amateur (2m, 6f, age 28–53 yrs) and eight professional (4m, 4f, age 26–49 yrs) singers who had been attending singing lessons for at least six months were included. Continuous ECG was recorded and computerized spectral analysis was performed. Serum concentrations of TNF-alpha, prolactin, cortisol, and oxytocin were measured before and 30 min after the lesson. Five visual analogue scales (VAS, sad-joyful, anxious-calm, worried-elated, listless-energetic, and tense-relaxed) were scored before and after the lesson. In addition, a semi-structured interview was performed.
Heart rate variability analyses showed significant changes over time in the two groups for total power, and low and high frequency power. Power increased during singing in professionals, whereas there were no changes in amateurs. This indicates an ability to retain more “heart-brain connection,” i.e., more cardio-physiological fitness for singing in professional singers, compared to amateur singers. Serum concentration of TNF-alpha increased in professionals after the singing lesson, whereas the concentration in amateurs decreased. Serum concentrations of prolactin and cortisol increased after the lesson in the group of men and vice versa for women. Oxytocin concentrations increased significantly in both groups after the singing lesson. Amateurs reported increasing joy and elatedness (VAS), whereas professionals did not. However, both groups felt more energetic and relaxed after the singing lesson. The interviews showed that the professionals were clearly achievement-oriented, with focus on singing technique, vocal apparatus and body during the lesson. The amateurs used the singing lessons as a means of self-actualization and self-expression as a way to release emotional tensions. In summary, in this study, singing during a singing lesson seemed to promote more well-being and less arousal for amateurs compared to professional singers, who seemed to experience less well-being and more arousal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Annual report. (1999). Public Education Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Arimura, A., Takaki, A., and Komaki, G. (1994). Interactions between cytokines and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during stress.Ann N Y Acad Sci, 739, 270–281.
Berntson, G. G., Bigger, J. T., Jr., Eckberg, D. L., Grossman, P., Kaufmann, P. G., Malik, M., Nagaraja, H. N., Porges, S. W., Saul, J. P., Stone, P. H. and van der Molen, M. W. (1997). Heart rate variability: origins, methods, and interpretive caveats.Psychophysiology, 34 (6), 623–648.
Bigger, J. T., Jr, Fleiss, J. L., Steinman, R. C., Rolnitzky, L. M., Kleiger, R. E., Rottman, J. N. (1992). Frequency domain measures of heart period variability and mortality after myocardial infarction.Circulation, 85 (1), 164–171.
Circulation. (1996). Heart rate variability: standards of measurements, physiological interpretation and clinical use. Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. March 1, 93 (5), 1043–65
Frankenhaeuser, M., and Johansson, G. (1986). Stress at work: Psychobiological and psychosocial aspects.Int Rev Applied Psychol, 35, 287–299.
hemmilä, I., Dakubu, S., Mukkala, V-M, Siitari, H., Lövgren, T. (1984). Europium as a lable in time-resolved immunofluorometric assays.Anal. Biochem, 137, 335–343.
Hermerén, G. (1986). Kunskapens pris. Forskningsetiska problem och principer i humaniora och samhällsvetenskap. (The cost of knowledge. Ethical problems and principles of research in the humanities and social sciences). Stockholm: Humanistisk-samhällsvetenskapliga forskningsrådet; 1986.
Kirschbaum, C., Wüst, S., Hellhammer, D. (1992). Consistent sex differences in cortisol responses to psychological stress.Psychosomatic Medicine, 54, 648–657.
Konlaan, B., Bygren, LO, and Johansson, S-E. (2000). Visiting the cinema, concerts, museums or art exhibitions as determinant of survival: a Swedish fourteen-year cohort follow-up.Scand J Public Health, 28, 174–178.
Nelson, D. V, and Novy, D.M. (1997). Self-report differentiation of anxiety and depression in chronic pain.J Pers Assess, 69, 392–407.
Sandgren, M. (2002). Voice, Soma and Psyche. A Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Opera Singers.Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 17 (March), 11–21
Sawchenko, P. E. (1991). Tale of three peptides: Corticotropic releasing factor, oxytocin and vasopressin containing pathways mediating integrated hypothalamic reponses to stress. In Cubbin, J. A., Kauffmann, P. G., and Nemeroff, C. B. (Eds)Stress, neuropeptides and systemic disease. New York, Academic Press.
Schuit, A. J., van Amelsvoort, L. G., Verheij, T. C., Rijneke, R. D., Maan, A. C., Swenne, C. A., Schouten, E. G. (1999). Exercise training and heart rate variability in older people.Med Sci Sports Exerc, 31 (6), 816–821.
Steptoe, A., Willemsen, G., Owen, N., Flower, L., Mohamed-Ali, V. (2001). Acute mental stress elicits delayed increases in circulating inflammatory cytokine levels.Clin Sci (Lond), 101, 185–192.
Stock, S., and Uvnäs-Moberg, K. (1988). Increased plasma levels of oxytocin in response to afferent electrical stimulation of the sciatic and vagal nerves and in response to touch and pinch in anaesthetized rats.Acta Physiol Scand, 132, 29–34.
Storck, N., Ericson, M., Lindblad, E., Jensen-Urstad M. (2001). Automatic computerized analysis of heart rate variability with digital filtering of ecotopic beats.Clinical Physiology, 21, 15–24.
Theorell, T. (1992). Prolactin—a hormone that mirrors passiveness in crisis situations.Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Sci, 27 (1), 32–38.
Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Arn, I., Theorell, T., and Jonsson, C. O. (1991). Gastrin, somatostatin and oxytocin levels in patients with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and their response to feeding and interaction.J Psychosom Res, 35 (4/5), 525–533.
Wigers, S. H. (1996). Fibromyalgia outcome: the predictive values of symptom duration, physical activity, disability pension and critical life events: a 4.5 year prospective study.J. Psychosom Research, 41, 235–243.
Zimmerman, L., Story, K. T., Gaston-Johansson, F., and Rowles, J. R. (1996). Psychological variables and cancer pain.Cancer Nursing, 19, 44–53.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grape, C., Sandgren, M., Hansson, LO. et al. Does singing promote well-being?: An empirical study of professional and amateur singers during a singing lesson. Integrative Physiological & Behavioral Science 38, 65–74 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02734261
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02734261