Dr. Avnish Jolly,15 July:Recent research suggests that a person who sings regularly is happier than non-singing persons. Choristers have a better quality of life than other people. Humming tunes is known as a good stress and strain buster.
The results of the study are based on a survey of more than 1,100 choral singers in Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom. The research, presented at a national public health conference in Brisbane this week, involved 21 choirs, including five from southeast Queensland. It found 51% of the choralists had long-term health problems, more than twice the Australian norm. They also scored below average on a WHO scale of psychological health and social functioning. However, 98% rated their quality of life as good or excellent, and 81% were satisfied or very satisfied with their health.
According to research that while people who join singing groups tend to be less healthy than the average person, they are in fact happier. Don Stewart, Head of Public Health, Griffith University, Queensland quoted at http://stuff.co.nz that they’re actually much more satisfied with their health overall and their life in general than everyone else and it’s quite a remarkable find really, and quite inspiring.
Stewart stressed that that’s definitely above the norm so there’s something special happening here.