Impact of mindfulness-based music therapy on physiological functions and subjective perception in college students: Two single case studies
Impact of mindfulness-based music therapy on physiological functions and subjective perception in college students: Two single case studies

Summary/Abstract: Mantra singing or listening is a typical part of mindfulness-based music therapy. Despite its growing popularity, it lacks support in research findings that would demonstrate the effect of these interventions on physiological functions and subjective perception. The aim of these two single case studies was to investigate the potential of mantra singing/listening in two female university students. Methods: Participant 1 was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, while participant 2 had an anxiety disorder. Both completed 4 therapy sessions, during which the effect of mantra singing/listening on heart rate variability (HRV), perceived stress, muscle tension, and fatigue was assessed. While HRV was measured with a VLV Lab device, other outcomes were measured with visual analogue scales. Results and discussion: The results indicate the potential of these interventions to achieve clinically significant changes in all monitored outcomes (the changes were most consistent in perceived muscle tension, while they were least consistent in perceived fatigue). However, further research on larger sets of participants, optimally experimental studies or quasi-experiments with a control group, is needed to verify the potential effect of this intervention.

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