Effect of specific melodic scales of Indian music in reducing state and trait anxiety: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Music is an aesthetic stimulus that evokes a subjective experience in every individual involved with it. Music as a modality to reduce anxiety and stress has been researched scientifically across the world, but evidence regarding Indian musical scales (ragas) is meager. Healthy individuals were randomly divided into four groups where three groups—A ( Ahir Bhairav), B ( Kaunsi Kanada), and C ( Bhimpalas)—received a music intervention (10 min) while Group D was the control group. Anxiety was scored using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and after the intervention. Data analysis was done using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). All three scales reduced STAI scores significantly, with Scale B causing the maximum reduction in the score. After adjusting for the pre-trait scores, it was observed that age ( p = .002) and gender ( p = .018) affected the post-trait scores. A regression analysis on gender showed a significant association of trait scores in Group C ( p = .01; odds ratio [OR] = 0.125). Scales A and C had more beneficial effects in females while Scale B was beneficial among males. Thus, listening to any of the three chosen Indian scales reduced anxiety. Listening to music does have therapeutic implications for anxious and stressed individuals.