The Effects of Low-Intensity Music in Adolescents With Anxiety

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Low-Intensity Soothing Music: Participants will listen to pre-selected low-intensity soothing music under standardized experimental conditions. Anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms will be assessed before and after the intervention. In parallel, heart rate variability (HRV) and fNIRS will be recorded to evaluate the short-term clinical effects of the music intervention and to explore its potential neurophysiological mechanisms.

Environmental Sound Exposure: Participants listen to recorded environmental sounds matched in decibel to the music group, for \~15 minutes. Baseline and post-intervention assessments are identical to the music group, including self-report questionnaires, fNIRS, and ECG recordings.

Study summary

In modern society, increasing attention has been devoted to mental health problems among adolescents, with anxiety and depressive disorders being particularly prevalent in this population. Evidence indicates that anxiety not only affects emotional states and daily quality of life but also has significant impacts on physiological health, including blood pressure and heart rate. At present, clinical treatment relies primarily on pharmacological interventions and cognitive behavioral therapy; however, these approaches are associated with limitations such as pronounced side effects and delayed onset of efficacy, which restrict their applicability in adolescents. Music and other structured sounds have been used since ancient times to alleviate negative emotional states such as tension and anxiety. Research has shown that listening to soothing music can reduce sympathetic nervous system activity while enhancing parasympathetic tone, thereby leading to a decrease in heart rate and an increase in heart rate variability (HRV). Owing to its gentle characteristics, low-intensity soothing music is considered effective in relieving stress, regulating emotional states, and exerting beneficial effects on physiological indicators.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change from baseline in anxiety symptoms assessed by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7, range: 0-21) after the intervention. — Baseline and immediately after the intervention (Day 1)
  The total scores of these questionnaires were interpreted as follows: normal (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14), and severe (15-21) anxiety.
• Change baseline in anxiety symptoms assessed by the State - Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T; range: 20-80) after the intervention. — Baseline and immediately after the intervention (Day 1)

Trial sites (1)

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