Exploring the Impact of Choral

Singing on Mindfulness
Supervisor: Charlotte Emma Wilson

Researcher: Julie Lynch (lynchju@tcd.ie)

Background

Results

Choral singing as a therapeutic medium has attracted increased

attention in empirical research over the past decade.
Researchers have attempted to identify a theoretical framework
or mechanism by which improved psychological well-being
within a choir setting occurs. This study takes into
consideration the relevance of mindfulness, the latest fad in
psychotherapy and self-help psychology. Mindfulness is defined
as the focused attention and awareness of what is occurring in
the present moment, and is widely associated with the
mitigation of stress and enhancement of emotional and mental
well-being. This research places particular emphasis on the statelike quality of mindfulness.
The development and validation of a novel
questionnaire (the Mindful State Questionnaire) is described.
The present study contributes to addressing the shortcomings
described in the literature by using quantitative data, employing
an appropriate, large, non-clinical sample, attempting to define
a mechanism by which choral singing and well-being may be
linked and delineating the construct of state mindfulness.

Hypothesis was supported. A repeated measures t-test

revealed a significant increase in levels of state mindfulness
both from Before Choir (M=108.72, SD=18.97) to After Choir
(M=129.22, SD=15.42), t(85)=10.92, p<.001, and from
Before Listening (M=108.49, SD=19.94) to After Listening
(M=117.92, SD=19.41), t(72)=4.48, p<.001. The effect size
was much larger for the singing condition (2 = 0.58) than
the listening condition (2= 0.21).
Choir singing

135

Listening to a piece of music

130

Mean Score

125
120
115
110
105
100
95
Before

A.er

Condi-on (Choir Singing or Listening)

Figure 1. Mean differences of mindfulness levels between

conditions

Hypothesis
A period of choral singing will influence
levels of state mindfulness

Developed to assess the construct of state mindfulness

Composed of 20 items
9-point scale ranging from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree

Mindful State
Questionnaire
(MSQ)

Inter-item correlations fall between recommended range of .2 to .4

High internal consistency of items (Cronbachs alpha=0.869)
Demonstrates acceptable concurrent validity with MAAS (r=0.622)
Clear four-factor structure; attention, awareness, acceptance and non judgment

Method

Conclusion
v Results demonstrate a significant influence of choral
singing on levels of self-reported state mindfulness. This
research has far-reaching implications not only for the
incorporation of choirs in the promotion of mental health
nationwide, but also for the cultivation of mindfulness
through informal practice.
v The increase in state mindfulness following the period of
listening to music was unexpected, but can potentially be
explained by prior research suggesting that listening to music
elicits positive affect and heightens arousal in human beings.
v The results indicate that the MSQ is a useful, appropriate
measure for assessing levels of mindfulness. However, it is
recommended that future studies examine state mindfulness
at the facet level, to facilitate drawing theoretical and
operational distinctions between state and trait mindfulness.

Design. Experimental, within subjects design.

Participants . Eighty-three predominantly Irish amateur
choristers (18 males, mean age 51.9 years old)
Procedure. Participants filled out Mindful Attention Awareness
Scale (Brown and Ryan, 2003) and Mindful State Questionnaire
(MSQ). Participants engaged in a full choir rehearsal.
Participants filled out MSQ after choir rehearsal, and received a
listening exercise to complete at home. Listening exercise: fill
out MSQ, listen to full CD (Gabriel Faures Requiem), fill out
MSQ, return completed questionnaires to next rehearsal.

I would like to extend my deepest thanks and

appreciation to conductors Malcolm Green and
Valerie Marron, and to the members of the Limerick
Choral Union and Caherconlish Community Choir for
taking the time and effort to contribute to this piece of
research and for allowing me to intrude on your valued
rehearsal time. The welcoming attitude and enthusiasm
I received thoroughly drove my passion for the
project.

Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003) The benefits of being present: mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822- 848.