Effects of music therapy on teenagers’ anxiety

Abstract

One of the most common mental health disorders among adolescents is anxiety, which is found in 10% to 20% of adolescents worldwide. Because these disorders have a significant impact on the academic, social, and emotional functioning of adolescents, it is essential to find effective, accessible, and acceptable solutions that can be applied on a large scale and cost-effectively. Although cognitive behavioral therapy is a popular approach to treating anxiety, young people may find it stigmatizing or inaccessible. Music therapy, a therapeutic intervention using music, stands out in this context because it is non-invasive, expressive, and engaging for adolescents. Music therapy provides opportunities for emotional self-regulation and symbolic expression, either through listening (receptive) or through creative activities (active). The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the extent to which music therapy helps adolescents feel less anxious. We analyzed studies published between 2015 and 2025. “Music therapy,” “anxiety,” and adolescent/teenager were the key words used to select articles. The objectives of this review were to (1) summarize the results of music therapy; (2) identify the characteristics of effective interventions; and (3) analyze the methodological limitations of existing research. The studies analyzed demonstrated that music therapy has a positive effect on reducing general anxiety as well as school anxiety, along with an increase in self-esteem and self-control, indicating that music therapy, whether active (e.g. improvisation, singing) or receptive (e.g. guided listening), is effective, with maximum benefits in groups or combined with other therapies.