BENEFITS
OF SINGING
Research Disclaimer:
Engagement in the arts has long been associated with positive effects on health and overall well-being. Visitors are invited to explore selected research related to singing and breathing below. All referenced studies, articles, and scientific materials are provided solely for informational and educational purposes and are intended to contribute to the broader body of knowledge in this field. Any citation, reference, or mention of third-party research shall not be construed as an endorsement, sponsorship, approval, or affiliation of Be Delighted, SingRx, or any respective affiliates by the authors, researchers, or institutions associated with such research.
Led by researchers at Western Michigan University (including Edward Roth, Jason Keeler, and John Spitsbergen), the study explored how group singing influences the biological mechanisms behind stress, social affiliation, and the psychological state of "flow." The pilot study examined pre-composed singing (singing structured, pre-written music) and improvised singing (singing extemporaneously and creating music together in the moment).The researchers collected blood samples before and after each condition to measure specific biomarkers and administered a standardized questionnaire to evaluate the participants' psychological state.
Here were the findings of the research:
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Oxytocin and Improvisation: Plasma oxytocin levels—often called the "bonding hormone" due to its role in trust and social affiliation—showed a distinct increase only in the improvised singing condition and appeared to trigger a stronger neurochemical bonding response in the improvised singing condition than the structured, pre-written music.
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Stress Reduction (ACTH): Levels of Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a chemical that regulates the body's stress response, decreased across both singing conditions. The reduction was statistically significant in the pre-composed condition, demonstrating that group singing inherently acts as an effective tool for lowering physiological stress and arousal.
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Social Flow: In both settings, participants reported high scores on the "flow state" scale. Flow is the optimal psychological state of being completely absorbed and synchronized in an activity. The study connected this subjective feeling of "being in the groove" with the physical reduction of stress hormones.
National Library of Medicine, “The Neurochemistry and social flow of singing: bonding and oxytocin,” accessed May 26, 2026, The neurochemistry and social flow of singing: bonding and oxytocin - PubMed
Dr. Jacquelyn Kulinski and her research team at the Medical College of Wisconsin "were the first to demonstrate that just 14 minutes of solo singing improves vascular function acutely, regardless of singing expertise (or lack thereof). Changes were more favorable in subjects with baseline endothelial dysfunction (i.e. those with established coronary artery disease and/or advanced age with CVD risk factors). Interestingly, there was no relationship between level of enjoyment and changes in vascular function; however, a relationship was seen in level of enjoyment and improvement in heart rate variability. Changes in heart rate variability observed in this study are similar to those seen in light-intensity exercise. In this context, singing could be a promising non-pharmacologic intervention to lower CVD risk."
Medical College of Wisconsin, "MCW Cardiovascular Medicine Singing and Cardiovascular Health Research," accessed February 17, 2025, https://www.mcw.edu/departments/medicine/divisions/cardiovascular-medicine/research/singing-and-cardiovascular-health
"Farinelli breathing (FB) exercise is a typical breathing exercise used by singers. This study aimed to compare effects of FB exercise and diaphragmatic breathing (DB) exercise on respiratory function and symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). FB exercise improved respiratory functions and COPD symptoms of patients with COPD. "
National Library of Medicine, “Effects of Farinelli Breathing Exercise on Respiratory Function and Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,” accessed November 6, 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8987668/
Singing improves mood. It's very effective as a stress reliever and improves sleep. Singing releases pain-relieving endorphins. Your posture improves. Lung capacity increases. It clears sinuses and respiratory tubes. It tones your facial and stomach muscles. It boosts your immune system, helping to fight disease and prolong life expectancy. Your confidence increases and mental alertness improves.
Barbershop Harmony Society, “Health Benefits of Singing,” accessed November 7, 2023,
Hans Guenther Bastian and other researchers from the Institute of Musical Education at Frankfurt University tested the blood of people who sang in a professional choir in the city, before and after a 60 minute rehearsal of Mozart's Requiem. They found that concentrations of immunoglobulin A - proteins in the immune system which function as antibodies - and hydrocortisone, an anti-stress hormone, increased significantly during the rehearsal. When asked a week later to listen to a recording, the composition of their blood did not change significantly.
Barbershop Harmony Society, “Health Benefits of Singing,”accessed February 5, 2018,
http://www.barbershop.org/education/health-benefits-of-singing/
"A 1986 study in The American Journal of Nursing compared heart and lung function in 20 opera singers 28 to 65 years old with that of a control group of non-singers, all under 40. It found that the opera singers had stronger chest-wall muscles and that their hearts pumped better. The singers also maintained a large lung capacity, something that usually declines with age. A 2006 study of four singers focused on the action of the specific muscle groups and body zones involved in operatic singing over three semesters of training. The study measured lung volume and rib cage and abdominal expansion and found results suggesting that the respiratory system is highly responsive to vocal training over even a short period."
"Choral singing calms the heart and boosts endorphin levels. It improves lung function. It increases pain thresholds and reduces the need for pain medication," Pink claims, citing research published in Evolution and Human Behavior. It also seems to improve your outlook, boosting mood and self-esteem while alleviating feelings of stress and depression.
"An intervention that is specifically designed to help children with autism to develop expressive language is currently being tested (Wan et al., 2009; Wan, Demaine, Zipse, Norton, & Schlaug, 2010). Known as auditory-motor mapping training (AMMT), this intervention involves three main components—singing, motor activity, and imitation—that engage a presumed dysfunctional human mirror neuron system that is believed to underlie some of the communication deficits in autism (Wan et al., 2010). First, singing engages a bilateral fronto-temporal network more prominently than speaking does, and this network contains some components of the mirror neuron system (Brown, Martinez, Hodges, Fox, & Parsons, 2004; Ozdemir et al., 2006)...Because AMMT enhances interactions between the auditory and motor systems, it may represent an effective therapeutic strategy through which individuals with autism can develop their communication skills"
National Library of Medicine, “The Neurochemistry and social flow of singing: bonding and oxytocin,” accessed May 26, 2026, The neurochemistry and social flow of singing: bonding and oxytocin - PubMed
A 2002 study from Bailey and Davidson reveals many positive benefits of singing...
"The study consisted of interviewing members of a small choir of homeless men in Montreal. The study found that singing ameliorated depression, enhanced emotional and physical wellness, and instilled a greater sense of self-worth. The group activity provided support in which the men could improve and develop the necessary social skills to achieve group goals as well as redirecting the men's focus from ruminating on self problems."
Bailey, B.A., & Davidson, J.W. (2002). Adaptive characteristics of group singing: Perceptions from members of a choir for homeless men. Musicae Scientiae, 6 (2), 221‐256.
"A study published in the journal Music Perception found that singing can help seniors suffering from certain neurological disorders..."
"Researchers found that singing helped the brain functioning of those struggling from aphasia and Parkinson’s disease. The researchers found that songs influence parts of the brain responsible for emotional regulation.
A study presented at Society for Neuroscience in San Diego found that singing in a group improved thinking, memory and mood in those with dementia. The study group consisted of elderly men and women with various levels of dementia. They were divided into two groups, one group that participated in singing and another that listened. After participating in three music sessions a week for four months, the group that participated scored higher on tests of memory than those who listened. “These data show that participation in an active singing program for an extended period of time can improve cognition in patients with moderate to severe dementia,” the researchers wrote."
"Investigators sought to assess the effectiveness of music therapy on relieving PTSD symptoms. Results showed a positive benefit..."
"A study took place from 2010 to 2011 in which 40 Veterans with significant PTSD symptoms took part in. Half of the participants were returning Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Investigators sought to assess the effectiveness of music therapy on relieving PTSD symptoms. Results showed a positive benefit in relieving PTSD symptoms as a result of the intervention. In addition, findings suggest that the music therapy was effective in reducing depression symptoms and improving health-related quality of life."
https://www.hsrd.research.va.gov/news/research_news/music-010614.cfm