Effects of Music Listening on Psychological and Physiological Stress : Differences in the Results of Music Preference of the Subjects

本研究では，筆者の2016年の研究に引き続き，同じ心理的指標（SRS-18）と別の組み合わせの生理的指標で測定し比較し，これに音楽嗜好という観点を加えながら，音楽とストレスの関係を検討することを目的とした。年齢が20歳～69歳（平均34.50±16.48）32人の対象者に対して，音楽聴取前後のストレスの変化を，心理的指標と生理的指標で測定した。また，音楽聴取後，聴取音楽の好き嫌いについても評価してもらった。その結果，音楽がストレスに何らかの影響を与えていることは両指標において認められたが，心理的指標で得られた結果は，生理的指標で得られた結果よりも顕著であり，音楽嗜好と心理的ストレスとは関わりが深い可能性を示した。また，音楽聴取前の心理的・生理的ストレスの状態が，聴取音楽に対する感じ方や嗜好に影響を及ぼす可能性が示されたが，特に，アミラーゼ活性で得られた結果は，生理的ストレスが高い人にとって音楽は，良い刺激になっていた可能性を示すものだった。つまり，（生理的）ストレスを感じる状況では，人は音楽を好ましいと感じる傾向を示す可能性があると言える。
Following research I conducted in 2016, the aim of this study is to investigate how music influences stress in subjects using a psychological index (SRS-18) together with a combination of other objective indexes, and to examine how music preference has an influence on and is related to stress. Thirty-two healthy subjects (mean age: 34.50±16.48 years) were recruited and listened to two kinds of music among three types. Saliva samples were taken before and after each session, and cortisol， secretory immunoglobulin A, amylase activity, and chromogranin A were analyzed. The subjects also answered questionnaires before and after each session. In addition, the subjects evaluated music preference after listening to the music, and the data were examined. According to the results, music listening has an influence on both psychological and physiological stress, and the changes in the psychological index were significantly different. Therefore, music preference may have a deeper relationship with psychological stress. In addition, this study demonstrated that both stress conditions of the subjects before listening to music are associated with music preference. Among them, amylase activity clearly showed that the subjects with higher physiological stress in particular had a tendency of preferring music. This means that music listening may be a good stimuli for those with anxiety and higher physiological stress.