Impact of a 30-Day Online Sound Healing on Stress and Anxiety

Abstract

This study explored the psychological impact of a structured 30-day online sound healing intervention on anxiety, stress, and spirituality among adults. Thirty participants engaged in daily practices including Hari Om chanting, Nāda Yoga meditation, and self-healing with singing bowls. A repeated measures design was used, and participants completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Spirituality Scale by Dr. Colleen Delaney both before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures MANOVA and follow-up univariate tests in JAMOVI and Python. While multivariate results approached significance, univariate analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction in stress (p = .027), and directional improvements in anxiety and spirituality. These findings suggest that sustained engagement in sound-based practices may be effective in promoting stress relief and holistic well-being, supporting the integration of vibrational healing techniques into wellness programs.

Introduction

Sound healing is the practice of deliberately using sound and listening in order to change and expand awareness to support the body’s natural capacity for self-healing and renewal. The mechanisms of action that underpin sound’s efficacy as a therapeutic agent are provided by the nature and manifestations of vibration and consciousness, as well as the effects of these interactions on matter, energy, and living organisms. A key element of sound healing is the development of basic sound-making skills via the use of different musical instruments and or sound-making materials. Sound healers commonly use simple instruments that are easy to learn and use, such as tuning forks, handcrafted and crystal singing bowls, gongs, whistles, didgeridoos, flutes, frame drums, rain sticks, and the voice (Beaulieu & Perez-Martinez, 2018).

The practice of balancing and mending the body, mind, and spirit via the use of particular instruments, music, tones, and other acoustic vibrations is known as sound healing. It entails creating a therapeutic environment with specific sound frequencies to encourage deep sleep, nervous system balance, and emotional catharsis. Sound therapy, sometimes known as neurological music therapy, involves moving, singing, or listening to music. This is more frequently utilised for relaxation, stress relief, physical rehabilitation, pain management, and brain traumas (Acharya, 1993).

Music is also utilised in sound therapy, a therapeutic strategy that employs different signals and vibrations to improve the mental and physical health of individuals, groups, and cultures. This can include listening to various musical experiences, chanting, dancing to alternative music beats, playing an instrument, or practicing meditation. A specialised practitioner’s specific therapy may include one-on-one or in-group training. During a session, participants usually lie down or sit while listening to pre-programmed sounds or music that is displayed on a monitor. Certain instruments that have been in use for thousands of years can produce these sounds, as can specialised instruments like tuning forks that apply frequency and sound vibrations (Pulido, 2001). In sound therapy, handmade bowls that resemble bells are frequently used in conjunction with gongs and other musical instruments that vibrate. It has truly been nicknamed a “sound bath” due to the unique experience that participants have characterised as the sound and vibration washing over their body (Goldsby et al., 2022).

The study of consciousness via the medium of sound and the identification of its origin is known as nada yoga (Kumar & Singh, 2019). Nada Yoga, a subset of yoga philosophy, signifies union through sound. While nada yoga is a unique route, it can also encompass other facets of yoga that are related to change through sound, such as tone, music, and the skill of listening. Nadam means sound current or cosmic vibration in Sanskrit. Harmonising the subtle and gross energy fields and bringing them into harmony with their inherent vibration is the goal of nada yoga. This occurs in anticipation of what is considered yoga’s ultimate aim, which is the blissful union with the divine. However, it has never been evaluated how these subtle impacts of yogic sound resonance affect the body’s subtle energy systems (Veerabrahmachar et al., 2023; Hersey, 2013). The technique uses particular sound frequencies to reverberate the body’s energy centres.

One can attain complete health by doing yoga. YOG is a scientific method of improved living and wellness. It combines mental, emotional, moral, intellectual, and spiritual energies, which eventually results in excellent health and the promise of a fulfilling life. Etymologically, “Na” means breath and “Da” means energy. Using the flow of sounds, nada yoga is a technique that unites the individual’s mind with universal consciousness. It is increasingly used as a meditation technique and associated with psychological rewards. According to this theory, the basic elements of the universe are vibrational energy rather than matter and particles. Everything in the universe, including vibrations and every human being within it, is considered vibrational in nature. Realising Anahata nada, or unstruck sound of the eternal energy of cosmic consciousness, is the focus of nada yoga. It facilitates mental, physical, and spiritual equilibrium (Gupta & Pal, 2024; Kumar & Naudiyal, 2020).

Methodology

Purpose

The present study aimed to examine the psychological and emotional effects of a sound healing intervention on adult participants. Specifically, the study evaluated changes in anxiety, stress, and spirituality levels using a repeated measures pretest and posttest design. The intervention was designed as a structured 30-day sound-based practice incorporating vibrational healing, chanting, and meditative techniques. The goal was to determine whether sustained exposure to sound healing could facilitate improvements in mental well-being and spiritual awareness.

Hypothesis

It was hypothesized that participants would demonstrate significant improvements in psychological outcomes following the sound healing intervention.

• H1: Post-intervention anxiety scores would be lower than pre-intervention scores.

• H2: Post-intervention stress levels would show a measurable decrease.

• H3: Post-intervention spirituality scores would be elevated relative to baseline.

• H4: Collectively, the dependent variables would show a multivariate effect of time.

Sample

The sample consisted of 30 adult participants (N = 30), aged between 20 and 57, recruited through online platforms. Inclusion criteria required participants to be at least 18 years of age, fluent in English, and able to consistently participate in the full 30-day online sound healing program. Participants provided informed consent and were assured of confidentiality and voluntary participation.

Measures

Three validated self-report instruments were administered to assess the dependent variables both before and after the intervention:

• Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI):
  Developed by Beck et al. (1988), this 21-item inventory measures the severity of anxiety symptoms over the past week. Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale (0 = Not at all to 3 = Severely), with higher scores indicating greater levels of anxiety. The BAI has demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .92) and strong construct validity.

• Perceived Stress Scale (PSS):
  Created by Cohen, Kamarck, and Mermelstein (1983), the PSS is a widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress. The 10-item version was used in this study, with responses rated on a 5-point scale (0 = Never to 4 = Very Often). The PSS has been validated across diverse populations and shows excellent reliability (α ≈ .85).

• Spirituality Scale by Dr. Colleen Delaney:
  This 23-item scale assesses an individual’s level of spirituality, emphasizing existential meaning, inner peace, and connectedness. Items are scored on a 6-point scale, and higher scores reflect a deeper sense of spiritual well-being. The scale has been used in healthcare and wellness studies and demonstrates robust internal consistency (α > .90).

Procedure

Participants engaged in a 30-day online sound healing program, which included the following components:

• Hari Om Chanting:
  Participants completed 10 mala (rosary cycles) of “Hari Om” chanting each day as a foundational vibrational practice.

• Nāda Yoga Meditation:
  A daily practice of 10 minutes of Nāda Yoga (sound-based meditation) was conducted each morning and evening, focusing on internal auditory awareness and tonal resonance.

• Self-Healing with Universal Singing Bowls:
  Participants practiced 5 minutes of self healing using universal singing bowls, performed both morning and evening, to promote vibrational alignment and energetic balance.

All practices were conducted in a virtual format, with guidance and structure provided through daily online instructions and recordings. Participants were asked to maintain consistency in practice and record daily adherence. Pre- and post-test assessments (BAI, PSS, and Spirituality Scale) were administered online, and responses were anonymized using participant codes.

Statistical Analysis

Data from both time points were analyzed using JAMOVI and cross-validated in Python using appropriate statistical models. Statistical analyses were conducted using both JAMOVI and Python to ensure reproducibility and cross-platform validation. JAMOVI was used for initial model fitting and diagnostics due to its intuitive GUI for multivariate tests, while the same analyses were independently replicated using Python with the statsmodels, pingouin, and pandas libraries.

A repeated-measures MANCOVA was conducted with time (pre vs. post) as the within-subjects factor, and anxiety, stress, and spirituality as dependent variables. The Python code used for the statistical modeling, assumption checks, and visualization is available at my profile:
https://github.com/YashMukand

The link to the code of the following research is:
https://github.com/YashMukand/sound-healing-mancova-analysis

Analysis of Data

Results

N, Mean and SD for Anxiety, Stress, and Spirituality (Pre- and Post-Intervention)