1. Home
  2. Vol 30, No 3 (2026)
  3. Wang

Music performance for stress regulation and psychosomatic well-being among female Chinese students

Yanli Wang(1), Sheng Pan(2),


(1) Music Department, Taiyuan University, Taiyuan, 030032, China
(2) School of Medical Humanities and Management, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310000, China
Corresponding Author

Abstract


This study addressed stress and mental health challenges among female Chinese university students, stemming from academic pressures, societal expectations, and impacts on reproductive health. It investigated music performance as a non-pharmacological intervention to improve psychological well-being and reproductive health. Guided by the Biopsychosocial and Transactional Model of Stress, a mixed-methods design was employed, including a quasi-experiment, a survey (n=900), and interviews (n=40). An 8-week music program was implemented. Data analysis (t-tests, ANOVA, SEM) showed a significant reduction in stress and improved health outcomes. Stress reduction was a key pathway, while SEM revealed a complementary pathway involving social bonding and emotional expression. Demographic factors like income were moderators. Qualitative data emphasized music's role in emotional release and self-care. We conclude that music is a potent, sustainable, and culturally relevant intervention for student well-being.

References


Halliburton AE, Hill MB, Dawson BL, Hightower JM, Rueden H. Increased stress, declining mental health: Emerging adults’ experiences in college during COVID-19. Emerg Adulthood. 2021;9(5):433-448.

Mohamed Hashim MA, Tlemsani I, Matthews R. Higher education strategy in digital transformation. Educ Inf Technol. 2022;27(3):3171-3195.

Howard LM, Wilson CA, Reilly TJ, Moss KM, Mishra GD, Coupland‐Smith E, Oram S. Women's reproductive mental health: currently available evidence and future directions for research, clinical practice and health policy. World Psychiatry. 2025;24(2):196-215.

Zhang JY, Zhang LP, Qiu YF, Wu WM, Zhou SJ, Ye XY, Gao Y. Comparing the effects of Western music and five-element music therapy on patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis: A randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2025;103199.

Yi SY, Kim AJ. Implementation and strategies of community music activities for well-Being: a scoping review of the literature. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(3):2606.

Golden TL, Springs S, Kimmel HJ, Gupta S, Tiedemann A, Sandu CC, Magsamen S. The use of music in the treatment and management of serious mental illness: a global scoping review of the literature. Front Psychol. 2021;12:649840.

Silverman M. Music Therapy in Mental Health for Illness Management and Recovery. Oxford University Press; 2022.

Hennenberg J, Hecking M, Sterz F, Hassemer S, Kropiunigg U, Debus S, Löffler-Stastka H. Exploring the synergy of music and medicine in healthcare: expert insights into the curative and societal role of the relationship between music and medicine. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(14):6386.

Zhou X, Bambling M, Bai X, Edirippulige S. Chinese school adolescents’ stress experience and coping strategies: a qualitative study. BMC Psychol. 2023;11(1):91.

Lazarus RS. Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer; 1984.

Engel GL. The need for a new medical model: a challenge for biomedicine. Science. 1977;196(4286):129-136.

He Q, Attan SA, Zhang J, Shang R, He D. Evaluating music education interventions for mental health in Chinese university students: a dual fuzzy analytic method. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):19727.

Zhao J, Gao P. The role of music in improving academic performance and reducing stress among Chinese youth: a quantitative and qualitative study. Curr Psychol. 2025;1-21.

Wang X. Exploring the impact of mindfulness, subjective well-being, and music engagement on academic performance of students in higher educational institutions. Humanit Soc Sci Commun. 2025;12(1):1-14.

Liao J, Papathanassoglou E, Zhang X, Li QN, Gupta A, Lu F, Frishkopf M. A cross-cultural randomized pilot trial of western-based and five elements music therapy for psychological well-being. Explore (NY). 2023;19(4):571-577.

Liu G, Hu J, Kostikova I. Music therapy and its impact on anxiety and mental well-being of Chinese students: An experimental comparison of traditional and VR approaches. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2025;255:104898.

Ba X, Li X, Zhang Z, Liu W. Effect of music therapy on the psychological well-being of maintenance hemodialysis patients: a retrospective study. Noise Health. 2024;26(121):192-197.

Feng Y, Wang M. Effect of music therapy on emotional resilience, well-being, and employability: a quantitative investigation of mediation and moderation. BMC Psychol. 2025;13(1):47.

Ozimek N, Velez K, Anvari H, Butler L, Goldman KN, Woitowich NC. Impact of stress on menstrual cyclicity during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a survey study. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2022;31(1):84-90.

Martins C, Mitchell JJ, Hamer M, Blodgett JM. Associations between psychological distress in adolescence and menstrual symptoms across life: Longitudinal evidence from the 1970 British Cohort Study. J Affect Disord. 2024;354:712-718.

Singh M, Rai A, Shalini S, Kumari R. Investigating lifestyle effects on female fertility: explore how diet, exercise, and stress impact women’s reproductive health. Acta Sci. 2023;24(6):237-243.

Shim J, Han S, Baek J. Factors influencing menstrual regularity among female workers: a cross-sectional analysis study. BMC Womens Health. 2024;24(1):299.

Yıldırım D, Yıldız CÇ. The effect of mindfulness-based breathing and music therapy practice on nurses' stress, work-related strain, and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: a randomized controlled trial. Holist Nurs Pract. 2022;36(3):156-165.

Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Transactional theory and research on emotions and coping. Eur J Pers. 1987;1(3):141-169.

Martin F. Dreams of Flight: The Lives of Chinese Women Students in the West. Duke University Press; 2021.


Full Text: PDF

Article Metrics

Abstract View : 303 times
PDF Download : 169 times

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.