Can Music Impact Social Isolation? – Conversations to Remember

The more we listen to music and remain in contact with one another, the less socially isolated we will feel. Research suggests that this is because social connectedness and music intertwine to generate feelings of warmth and tranquility. In turn, we start to feel like we matter and that we can relate to the experiences of others.

Music can transcend the mind and elicit a synchronizing effect. This is because it can distract us from our everyday stressors and may evoke nostalgia for the memories we associate the music with. We especially experience this sensation with the way the crescendos and decrescendos influence how we perceive the musical undertones we are listening to. Other factors that can contribute to these emotions are the tempo, pitch, and rhythm of a composition. For that reason, we may perceive strong feelings of extreme bliss or melancholy, depending on the piece.

What makes music really appealing is its ability to connect us with one another. With shared music tastes, we are able to reach out to those who play the same instruments and who like the same genres or artists we do, across the world. As a result, we can attend live concerts or musical performances together to attain that social experience our brains crave. This is especially true as music is influenced by a plethora of cultures to make it what it is today, as it gets passed down from generation to generation. Consequently, we feel seen, through the words and themes our favorite artists describe in their works.

When we find someone who relates to our lived experiences, we form a stronger connection that reinforces the “social glue” music contributes to. Scientists believe this social cohesion is supported by music activating the hippocampus (spatial memory center) and the amygdala (emotional control center). Therefore, it is theorized that, through these neuronal processes, we can better understand and predict the behaviors and actions of others. This is referred to as “Theory of Mind,” which researchers infer is linked to our ability to empathize with one another. Having empathy is crucial when building and establishing social relationships, as it can generate better communication and situational understanding.

Our brains release different neurotransmitters when we listen to music, facilitating feelings of social connectedness. One notable neurotransmitter is oxytocin, which is commonly referred to as the “love hormone.” It is found in the hypothalamus, more specifically in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls involuntary movement (e.g., breathing). Oxytocin is responsible for boosting trust and bonds in social interactions; it is particularly activated when we engage in skin-to-skin contact, especially during childbirth. As the brain processes these environmental cues to the ANS, it causes our heart rates to accelerate when we hear music that brings out more intense emotions compared to ones that are more relaxed, loose, or easygoing. For that reason, we tend to see how music can relieve stress and anxiety as it promotes these social situations.

With that being said, not all of us are able to engage in social activities. Instead, we may be socially isolated from others for numerous reasons, such as physical or mental disabilities. Currently, scientists are uncertain how music can accommodate these circumstances, as the data in music psychology is highly contested. Therefore, to test this ambiguous relationship, researchers in Victoria, Australia studied how music helped those who were socially isolated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, Victoria reported very high rates of this disease, with 90% of Australia’s COVID-related deaths occurring in that region. Due to this high-stakes and unprecedented public health emergency, the authors of the study observed how many Australians resorted to music as a way to replicate the social connections lost when physical distancing restrictions and lockdowns were enforced. This is because music provided their participants with feelings of autonomy/control, helped to generate conversations, fortified a sense of identity, allowed participants to mentally transport to a new environment, and promoted a mix of mindfulness and reminiscence of pre-pandemic memories (i.e., nostalgia). Such findings suggest that the music psychology community should further study this relationship, especially as previous studies concluded that music makes us feel as though we are in the presence of a friend, even when physically alone. Ultimately, this may cause us to feel less isolated and more emotionally supported.

This study demonstrates how people in socially limited environments can still turn to music to provide them with a sense of comfort and familiarity. This is truly valuable when we consider how music has the propensity to foster strong relationships among others when oxytocin is released. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that, in situations where a person is socially isolated from the public, they may retain the relationships they currently have with more vigor. Such a theory is further supported by the methods music therapists implement to help treat certain neuropsychiatric mental health conditions, such as depression. This is because music therapy is associated with the release of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, which are all referred to as the “feel good” or “happy” neurotransmitters. Research suggests this reaction happens because the music can be tailored to our interests and can further promote a sense of perceived control in situations where we otherwise may feel like we have little input, such as in social settings.

Music is particularly helpful in circumstances where we are not able to freely express ourselves. This is because music can help us self-reflect and learn more about ourselves, no matter if we are consumers or producers of music. This is because music forces us to be mindful and present, without judgment, as we learn the musical piece and hear the instruments around us. Future research should consider these benefits and how music can help socially isolated people and those who difficulty verbally expressing themselves, especially if they are diagnosed with agoraphobia, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, social anxiety, and so on. This is because individuals diagnosed with these conditions may be nonverbal, exhibit inappropriate affect, avoid talking with others out of fear of rejection, or have cognitive declines that inhibit their expressions.

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