Low-stress and high-stress singing have contrasting effects on glucocorticoid response
Open accessAbstract
Performing music in public is widely recognized as a potentially stress-inducing activity. However, despite the interest in music performance as an acute psychosocial stressor, there has been relatively little research on the effects of public performance on the endocrine system. This study examined the impact of singing in a low-stress performance situation and a high-stress live concert on levels of glucocorticoids (cortisol and cortisone) in 15 professional singers. The results showed a significant decrease in both cortisol and cortisone across the low-stress condition, suggesting that singing in itself is a stress-reducing (and possibly health-promoting) activity, but significant increases across the high-stress condition. This is the first study to demonstrate that singing affects cortisol as well as cortisone responses and that these responses are modulated by the conditions of performance.
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Previous studies involving singing have demonstrated that singing can modulate cortisol levels.
“Previous studies involving singing have demonstrated that singing can modulate cortisol levels [8, 10].”
From Singing modulates mood, stress, cortisol, cytokine and neuropeptide activity in cancer patients and carers (2016) · cites this paper as [8]
Singing holds potential as a stress reduction technique.
“Singing has long been associated with emotional expression and social bonding, but recent research suggests it also holds potential as a stress reduction technique.”
From Comprehensive review of chronic stress pathways and the efficacy of behavioral stress reduction programs (BSRPs) in managing diseases. (2024) · cites this paper as [271]
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References 37 · Cited by 109
- Authors
- Fancourt, D., Aufegger, L., & Williamon, A.
- Affiliations
- Royal College of Music (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Williamon, Aaron
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2015-09-04
- Volume
- 6
- Pages
- 1242-1242
- ISSN
- 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4559645
- OpenAlex
- W1821230731
- Cited by
- 109
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 9.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/K002287/1)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Music Therapy and Health
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Music › Diverse Music Education Insights
- Keywords
- singing, public performance, psychosocial stress, glucocorticoids, cortisol, cortisone, stress response, professional singers, live concert
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