SynthesisBMC medical education2026
The effectiveness of music interventions on psychological, physiological and academic outcomes in health sciences students: a meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundHealth sciences education involves intensive theoretical and clinical training that can expose students to psychological and physiological stressors, potentially affecting their well-being and academic success. Music may help mitigate these challenges. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of music interventions across psychological, physiological, and academic outcomes in health sciences students.
methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted in nine databases up to August 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled and controlled clinical trials comparing music interventions with control group were included. Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan (version 5.4).
resultsThirty-four studies (n = 2841) were included, mostly nursing (n = 24), medical (n = 7), dental (n = 2), and midwifery (n = 1) students. Meta-analyses demonstrated significant reductions in anxiety (SMD = - 0.48, 95% CI [- 0.72, - 0.23]; p = 0.001), depression (SMD = - 1.00, 95% CI [- 1.95, - 0.04]; p = 0.040), and vital signs, including systolic blood pressure (MD = - 7.15, 95% CI [- 9.64, - 4.66]; p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (MD = - 3.72, 95% CI [- 5.53, - 1.91]; p = 0.050), and pulse rate (MD = - 3.77, 95% CI [- 7.46, - 0.07]; p = 0.050). No significant effects were found for stress, self-efficacy, sleep quality, pain, or academic performance.
conclusionMusic interventions effectively improve emotional well-being and autonomic regulation among health sciences students. Although their effects on academic or behavioral outcomes remain inconclusive, music represents a simple and safe approach to enhance psychological resilience in educational environments.
trial registrationInternational Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD420251150104).
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