Hymns and mental health

A survey entitled ‘What hymns mean to you’ was conducted on 394 men and women, mostly recruited through religious organizations. Participants completed details on the extent that hymns can help overcome feeling down or depressed, and the reasons why. They also named up to three hymns that can have this effect. Analysis of the data revealed a high level of benefit from hymns, and a significant relationship between this and level of self-rated religiosity. Women reported significantly higher benefit than did men. Most cited hymns sung to tunes in major (as opposed to minor) mode, and approximately 66 per cent were in quadruple (as opposed to triple) time. Reasons for why the hymns had a positive effect on the participants’ mental health were offered, and these were supplemented by qualitative comments from the participants themselves. These findings have the potential to inform those responsible for compiling and conducting religious services in churches, care homes and other venues, on which hymns have he potential to help people by raising their spirits, and why

Art · Feeling · Humanities · Mental health · Psychiatry · Religiosity · Music Therapy and Health · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Social Psychology

• “Your Heart can Dance to them Even if your Feet Can’t”

  Janet B Eldred, Janet Eldred et al.•Practical Theology•2014

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