The effects of precategorized jazz and classical music and silence on state anxiety in mental health professionals

This study examined the effects of precategorized jazz and classical music and silence on state anxiety in mental health professionals. Ten staff members (music therapists, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, and a mental health worker) from Terrell State Hospital volunteered for the study. First, a 52 question initial listening test was administered to the group to determine the music to use for the experimental phase of the study. A 5-point Likert scale evaluated emotional responses to the initial listening test. The experimental phase of the study involved each subject's meeting individually with the researcher to experience each condition. The three condition orders were: (a) jazz, classical, and silence; (b) silence, classical, and jazz; and (c) classical, jazz, and silence. These condition orders were randomly assigned to each subject and introduced one at a time for three consecutive weeks. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), State Form, was administered before and after each condition as pre and posttest measures. Change scores were computed by subtracting posttest raw scores from pretest raw scores. Data was analyzed using the Analysis of Variance for Repeated Measures. Results showed no significant difference in state anxiety scores among the three conditions (i.e., jazz, classical, and silence.) Although results were not significant, most subjects reported lower posttest raw scores as compared to the pretest raw scores showing that the subjects exhibited lower state anxiety after all three conditions. Four subjects reported higher posttest raw scores under classical and silence conditions, indicating higher state anxiety after these conditions. No one reported higher state anxiety after experiencing the jazz music condition.