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Music and Health in Everyday Life in Denmark: Associations Between the Use of Music and Health-Related Outcomes in Adult Danes

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Music and Public Health

Abstract

This chapter presents a Danish epidemiological study of music as a health resource in the life of adult Danes. Data originates from the Danish Health and Morbidity Survey 2013. The survey was based on a random sample of 25,000 adult Danes (response rate: 57%). Besides standard health-related questions, the survey included eight specific questions addressing the informants’ music making, use of music in daily life and beliefs of music as a health resource. The results include (a) an overview of musical behaviours and beliefs in the adult population, (b) an examination of associations between singing/playing and various health-related outcomes such as quality of life and mental and physical health and (c) a closer look at self-rated health of adult amateur musicians and professional musicians versus non-musicians.

The study revealed significant differences in health behaviour between non-musicians, amateur musicians and professional musicians. A clear association was found between attending live concerts and reporting good health, and also believing that music activities and experiences can help to stay healthy. Gender and age are important variables in the interpretation of the results. Implications for public health initiatives are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Ola Ekholm

  2. Department of Communication and Psychology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Lars Ole Bonde

Authors
  1. Ola Ekholm
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  2. Lars Ole Bonde
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Correspondence to Lars Ole Bonde .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of communication and psychology, Center for Research in Music and Health, The Norwegian Academy of Music, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Lars Ole Bonde

  2. Karolinska Institute, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden

    Töres Theorell

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Ekholm, O., Bonde, L.O. (2018). Music and Health in Everyday Life in Denmark: Associations Between the Use of Music and Health-Related Outcomes in Adult Danes. In: Bonde, L., Theorell, T. (eds) Music and Public Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76240-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76240-1_2

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-76240-1

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