Preferred Music-Based Mindfulness: A new intervention for stress reduction

The salutary effect of mindfulness meditation on stress levels and related health outcomes has been well established in the literature. Research also suggests that listening to preferred music has similar effects. So far, however, studies have not directly compared the effect of combining mindfulness and preferred music listening as a tool for stress management. The current study addressed this gap in the literature by testing a new tool for stress management named Preferred Music-Based Mindfulness. In particular, it examined the effect of listening to preferred music with and without a mindfulness technique on reducing state anxiety and increasing relaxation in a randomized sample of healthy adult participants. Results suggested that listening to preferred music while using a mindfulness technique is significantly more relaxing than listening to preferred music alone. Listening to preferred music with and without mindfulness techniques reduced state anxiety. However, the addition of the mindfulness technique did not reduce state anxiety as compared to listening to music alone. This finding implies that there is some benefit in using mindfulness techniques while engaging in relaxation activities, such as listening to preferred music.