Music and sleep

Sleep problems are found to be correlated with poor well-being and low quality of life. Persistent sleeping disturbances can lead to fatigue, irritability, and various health issues. Numerous studies have examined the positive impact of music on sleep quality. As early as 2000 B.C., lullabies were designed to aid infant sleep. For adults with sleep-related disorders, music serves as a useful intervention in reducing stress. Approximately 25% of the population facing sleep difficulties regularly use music as a tool for relaxation. This process can be either self-prescribed or under the guidance of a music therapist.

Music therapy is introduced into the medical field for treating sleeping disorders following scientific experimentations and observations. Compared to other pharmacological methods for improving sleep, music has no reported side effects and is easy to administer. In direct comparisons, music has improved sleep quality greater than audiobooks and has been comparable to sedative hypnotics.

In addition, music can be combined with relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation. One review of non-pharmacological sleep aids identified music as the only sleep aid with adequate research. The influence of music on sleep has been investigated across various contexts, exploring how music stimuli can influence different aspects of the sleeping experience. Implications of findings help in building up a more effective procedure of musical therapies to target sleep problems.