Summary
Objectives
The study aims to quantify the impact of sociodemographic, personal, and choir-related
characteristics on perceived singing well-being and mental health changes due to singing.
Study Design
847 German adult choristers (233m, 614f, age 18-86 years) were interviewed in a cross-sectional
online questionnaire study that included questions on singing well-being, vocal and
choral characteristics, the adapted versions of the Bochum change questionnaire (BCQ2000),
the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-09), and the WHO-5 well-being index.
Methods
Multiple regression models were calculated with singing related well-being or mental
health changes as dependent variables and individual and choir-related characteristics
as factors. Predictors of mental health benefits were analyzed in gender subgroups
and in persons with a low or normal/high score on the WHO-5.
Results
On average, participants rated the impact of singing on well-being and mental health
changes positively. Subgroup analysis revealed smaller but significant positive mental
health effects in men compared to women and in persons with a low WHO-5 score compared
to those with a normal/high score. Education level and relationship status were not
significantly related to subjects’ perceptions of mental health benefits, whereas
singing well-being increased with age in women and in participants with a low WHO-5
score. Larger improvements in mental health came along with longer choir membership,
more singing hours per week, and a high engagement in choral activity. Significant
positive associations of well-being with optimal singing behavior and vocal warm-ups
were observed.
Conclusion
Results suggest that singers of all ages, genders, and educational backgrounds perceive
the choral experience as beneficial to their well-being and mental health. Positive
effects are related to WHO-5 scores, engagement in choral activity, and optimal singing
conditions. On average, women rate singing benefits higher than men and singers with
preexisting vocal pathologies or low WHO-5 benefit slightly less.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 03, 2022
Accepted:
June 3,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
