If you’ve ever attended a fantastic concert, you know the feeling. It’s being in a crowd of hundreds or thousands of fans like yourself singing along with one of your favorite artists to their big hit. Such an experience is almost dreamlike.
And according to recent studies, if you make a habit out of going to concerts, you will, in turn, become happier for it. At least that’s what new research conducted by Dawn Joseph and Melissa K. Weinberg and released by Sage Journal, suggests.
Weinberg and Joseph’s studies analyzed the link between “habitual music enjoyment and subjective well-being.” The latter subject is otherwise referred to as SWB.
Most studies relating to music and well-being were performed in the name of clinical research. One such study was the positive links between dementia patients and their favorite music. However, this study focused on that good-feeling so many concert-goers felt over the years.
To conduct their study, Joseph and Weinberg surveyed 1,000 random participants over the phone on their level of engagement with live music events. Their studies found that those “engaging with music by dancing or attending musical events was associated with higher SWB” than those who did not. It seems like those who attend concerts really enjoyed being involved in the company of others.
There’s a specific interpersonal quality to concert-goers communing with one another through their love of music that the study focuses on. And that experience really helps us keep our mood up long after the show’s over.
For those who haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy a concert, don’t worry! According to other studies, the act of listening to the music itself keeps you happier. So whether you’re seeing Blake Shelton live, dancing along with Lady Gaga, or rocking out to Tool in your car, your mood’s going to be better for it.
