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According to two studies, musicians and musically active people tend to have a higher genetic risk factor for bipolar disorder and depression. Data that goes against popular belief.
Is music good for mental health? Yes, according to music therapy, which bases its principles on the positive influence that music can have on morale. However, according to a recent German study, “musically active” people are paradoxically more often affected by depression and anxiety or bipolar disorders than those who do not attach importance to them. How can this be explained? The team of researchers looked in detail at the relationship between making music and mental health to find a slightly higher genetic risk for mental disorders.
Musical activity and related depressive syndromes in a study
In 2019, the team had already carried out a large population study to demonstrate a link between musical engagement and mental health problems. About 10,500 Swedish participants provided information about their music practice and mental health. The data was linked to the Swedish patient register so that psychiatric diagnoses could also be assessed. Musically active participants were found to report more frequent depressive, burnout, and psychotic symptoms. Since the study participants were twins, the research team also wanted to take family influences into account.
The genetic character invites itself in a complementary study
The scientists then continued their investigation of the relationship between music playing and mental health using molecular genetic methods in a study published in January 2023. According to them, the genetic variants that influence mental health problems and those that influence musical engagement overlap to some extent.
The team examined the DNA of 5,648 individuals. In addition to genotypic data, study participants provided information about their musical engagement, creative and athletic accomplishments, and mental health. Based on the information available, individual indicators – called “polygenic scores” – were calculated. The analysis of the data thus demonstrated several things:
- People with a higher genetic risk for depression and bipolar disorder were, on average, more often musically active, practiced more, and performed at a higher artistic level.
- These associations occurred regardless of whether people actually experienced mental health problems or not.
- Participants with a higher genetic predisposition for musicality also had, on average, a slightly higher risk of developing depression, whether or not they played an instrument.
Music, revealing a strong sensitivity?
Music is not bad for mental health, but it seems to be genetically “linked” to the mental sensitivity of the person who plays it.
“The overall relationship between making music and mental health is therefore very complex: family and genetic factors can influence both musicality and mental health. Additionally, musicians appear to have a slightly higher genetic risk for certain mental illnesses.” confirms Miriam Mosing, lead author of both studies.
Of course, these results do not exclude the possibility of positive influences of music on mental health. Musical engagement can have a positive, even therapeutic effect, this is recognized today. The team is actually conducting other research in this area, on the benefits of being fully absorbed in an activity, including playing an instrument. Early results show that these flow experiences can positively influence mental health, even when familial and genetic factors are taken into account.