Music in healthcare: Investigating music preferences for pain management across twenty countries

Music is increasingly investigated in healthcare to manage pain, anxiety and stress. Previous studies have demonstrated that listening to (preferred) music is effective for pain relief, but rarely explore whether people are open to instrumentalizing music in healthcare. Therefore, this study investigates 1) to what extent people across twenty countries are willing to listen to music when experiencing pain in healthcare, and 2) which music genres they choose, in light of their national context, background characteristics, and overall music preferences. In addition, we investigate the universality of the so-called ‘Mozart effect’, which describes the belief that classical music is superior in healthcare, despite research suggesting that favorite music, irrespective of genre, is most effective. To answer these questions, we use data from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry's international survey (2023), which includes twenty countries and 33,629 participants. In total, a large majority (86.5%) wants to listen to music when experiencing pain in healthcare. Although participants predominantly select music in line with their favorite music genres (73.1%), a smaller trend toward selecting classical music – in line with the ‘Mozart effect’ – is observed. Among those who prefer to listen to a music genre that they did not list as their favorite, classical music is predominantly chosen (43.3%). Furthermore, there are notable differences between national populations and across social groups in terms of preference for music when experiencing pain. These insights can be crucial for implementing music in healthcare worldwide, emphasizing the need for a culturally sensitive and personalized approach.