Music Moves Me in More Ways Than One: An Online Survey Investigating the Everyday Use of Music among People with Parkinson's

Abstract

Background Music has been used in interventions designed for people with Parkinson's (PwP) either to engage mechanisms involved in phenomena such as sensorimotor synchronization or as an integral part of the activity (e.g., dance). However, little research has been conducted concerning what music PwP use in everyday life and how and why this might differ based on situation/context. Methods We used an online survey to investigate what music PwP listen to, for which perceived reasons, and in which situations. In addition to demographic and Parkinson's-specific questions, we included standardized measures of quality of life, music and dance sophistication and bespoke items to explore music use. Results The sample ( N = 217, age range 20–88 years, Mean = 65.2, SD = 8.45) included 109 females (50%); 64% of participants reported a mild impact of Parkinson's on Activities of Daily Living. The top three uses of music were Aesthetic Appreciation (98%), Relaxation (92%), and Motivation (90%). The least popular category was using music for walking (36%). The duration of attentive listening was significantly higher for those who reported using music for managing their feelings than those who did not ( p < .01). Better quality of life was associated with higher participatory dance experience ( p < .001). Conclusion PwP listen to a wide range of music genres, most notably for enjoyment but also as a personalized “charge” and “re-charge” resource. Understanding the everyday use of music among PwP might facilitate the development of playlists and interventions to improve daily life for PwP.