Jonas Vaag

Symptoms of anxiety and depression among Norwegian musicians compared to the general workforce

In order to investigate mental health problems among professional musicians, we estimate the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression (psychological distress) among musicians compared to the general workforce. A total sample of 1,607 musicians from the Norwegian Musicians Union answered an online questionnaire about demographic characteristics, lifestyle and symptoms of anxiety and depression. They were compared to a sample of the Norwegian workforce (n = 2,550) drawn from the Norwegian survey of level of living 2012. Based on logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, education level, smoking status, alcohol usage, use of drugs, physical exercise and financial status, we compared anxiety and depression symptom levels in musicians to a variety of professions. Psychological distress was more prevalent among musicians than in the total workforce sample. Solo/lead performers, vocalists, keyboard instrument players and musicians playing within the traditional music genre reported the highest prevalence. Further research needs to map the psychosocial and personal factors contributing to the higher degree of depression and anxiety symptoms among musicians, as well as establishing evidence-based preventative measures.

Building Healthy Organizations Through Music and Culture Interventions

Interventions at work are often directed towards solving specific problems in the work environment. They are typically located on one of three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary. However, little research has been done on countervailing interventions, that is, proactive and health promoting interventions that focus on facilitating the positive aspects of the work situation and through this counteract the effects of negative situations and events. The intervention project “The sound of well-being” was a culturally based intervention to stimulate well-being for employees in the public sector. It was utilized to spread joy, increase motivation and unity, and to encourage work engagement and well-being in general. The project involved the forming of local choirs, rehearsals with and without professional musicians, mini concerts, choir battles, musical arrangements, sing back and ultimately a grand finale. In this chapter we investigate the utilization of countervailing interventions that take on a pro-active approach, aimed at promoting health and well-being in the workplace without being introduced as a response to an existing problem in the organization. It is our aim that this chapter will highlight the need for new ways of thinking concerning interventions, and explore new ways of developing cost efficient, yet effective interventions to promote employee health and well-being.

Sleep Difficulties and Insomnia Symptoms in Norwegian Musicians Compared to the General Population and Workforce

Sleep problems are reported as common among performing artists and musicians. However, epidemiological research comparing musicians to different groups of the general population is lacking. For this study, 4,168 members of the Norwegian Musician’s Union were invited to an online survey regarding work and health. Of the 2,121 (51%) respondents, 1,607 were active performing musicians. We measured prevalence of insomnia symptoms using the Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS), and compared this sample to a representative sample of the general Norwegian population . Overall, musicians had higher prevalence of insomnia symptoms compared to the general population (Prevalence Difference 6.9, 95% Confidence Interval 3.9–10.0). Item response analysis showed that this difference was mainly explained by nonrestorative sleep and dissatisfaction with sleep among musicians. An additional analysis, comparing musicians to the general Norwegian workforce on sleep difficulties, confirmed this tendency (Prevalence Difference 6.2, 95% Confidence Interval 4.3–8.1). Musicians performing classical, contemporary, rock, and country music reported the highest prevalence of insomnia, and these genres might be of special interest when developing preventative measures, treatment strategies, and further research on sleep difficulties among musicians.

Use of psychotherapy and psychotropic medication among Norwegian musicians compared to the general workforce

Previous research has reported higher prevalence rates of anxiety and depression among musicians, compared to the general workforce. We compared the use of psychotherapy and psychotropic medication with other major occupational groups, and expected to find higher use among musicians. Musicians from the Norwegian Musicians’ Union (n = 1,607) answered an online questionnaire about demographic characteristics, mental health, use of healthcare services and use of psychotropic medication. They were compared to a sample of the Norwegian workforce (n = 2,550) from the Norwegian survey of level of living. Based on chi-square and logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, education, and cohabitation status, we found that musicians reported higher use of psychotherapy and psychotropic medication. Use of psychotherapy was reported most frequently among vocalists, while rock musicians reported the most widespread use of psychotropic medication. Overall, musicians had three-fold higher odds of use of psychotherapy and 50% higher odds of use of psychotropic medication compared to the general workforce. This is consistent with previous findings indicating high rates of sleep-difficulties and psychological distress among musicians. The results underline the importance of investigating both the content and quality of services provided.

Choral singing as an arts-based organisational intervention: a qualitative study of employees’ experiences

Abstract Background. There is currently not much in-depth understanding of employee perspectives on the adoption of arts-based organisational interventions. This paper focuses on how one intervention consisting of choral singing in a workplace affected the employees’ sense of well-being and their perceptions of their work environment. Methods. Ten employees were interviewed about their personal experiences after the completion of a choral singing intervention in their organisation. Template analysis was adopted, and the study drew on the findings of a quantitative study of the same intervention. Results. Four themes were identified: (1) barriers for participation in the project; (2) positive experiences and effects; (3) negative experiences and effects; and (4) a sense of emptiness after the project had ended. Conclusions. It was evident that participation in the intervention was experienced positively, but also that a divide emerged between participants and non-participants, something which had negative consequences for both parties.

Five-factor personality profiles among Norwegian musicians compared to the general workforce:

The aim of the study was to investigate differences in personality traits between professional musicians and the general workforce, as well as differences in personality traits across subgroups of musicians according to types of employment and instrument group. In 2013, 1,600 members of the Norwegian Musicians’ Union answered a questionnaire regarding type of employment, instrument group and a shortened version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-20). The musicians were compared to a sample of the general Norwegian workforce (n = 6,372) that answered the same personality questionnaire in the Norwegian Generation and Gender Survey of 2007. Multivariable linear regression, adjusted for age, gender, marital status and education, showed that musicians displayed higher degrees of neuroticism and openness to experience, as well as lower degrees of conscientiousness, than the general workforce. A higher degree of openness to experience was especially evident among freelance musicians and those who combined freelance work with employment. Findings also differed according to musicians’ instrument groups, with vocalists scoring higher on openness to experience and bowed string players scoring higher on neuroticism and introversion. In sum, musicians displayed somewhat different patterns of personality traits compared to the general workforce, but our results did not support some of the previously held notions of a specific distinguishable personality structure of musicians. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the major distinguishable trait of musicians was a heightened degree of openness to experience.