Psychological Health Effects of Musical Experiences

Tores Theorell is a physician who was serving in internal medicine in the years 1967-1978. From 1979 he has been a researcher in stress medicine and social medicine. Between 1995 and 2006 he served as director of the Swedish National Institute for Psychosocial Factors and Health and was also a professor at the Karolinska Institute during this period. As a retired professor he presently serves as scientific consultant for the Institute for Stress Research at the Stockholm University and is active at the department of Neuro Science at the Karolinska Institute. Theorell´s research has had diversity from epidemiology to clinical observational studies and controlled interventions. Since the mid 1980:s he has also published in the area of Cultural Participation and Health. Theorell has been first author or co-author of more than 400 original publications in international peer reviewed scientific journals. He has also contributed chapters to numerous handbooks and textbooks in English. Hehas for instance contributed to the Oxford University Press Handbook of Culture and Health (eds Clift, Camic, Wilson, in press 2014). His most widely quoted publication was with Robert Karasek (Karasek and Theorell: Healthy Work, Basic Books, New York, 1990). Physiological stress mechanisms relating to cardiovascular disease has been one of Theorell´s most prominent areas.

“He discusses a range of the research-based evidence of the effects of musical participation upon health, including some of his own studies. … This discussion of the myriad benefits of music during human development, and its contribution to our holistic wellbeing and social integration, provides a wealth of evidence which may be useful in several practical contexts … . This book is a useful resource for anyone with an interest in music and wellbeing.” (Michael Bonshor, Arts Health Early Career Research Network Blog, artshealthecrn.com, August, 2018)

• Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Stress and Music.- Chapter 3: Music in Social Cohesion.- Chapter 4: Music in Religion.- Chapter 5: Physiological Aspects of Listening to Music.- Chapter 6: Music in Treatment.- Chapter 7: What Happens in the Body during Singing?.- Chapter 8: Singing Together.- Chapter 9: Growing up with Music.- Chapter 10: The Musician´s Health.- Chapter 11: Final Thoughts.