NCT07055061

An ISO Principle-Based Music Intervention for Reducing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 2,000 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Shanghai Mental Health Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a music-based intervention, guided by the ISO principle, in reducing stress, anxiety and depression induced by work, family or others among adults. The ISO principle suggests that emotional regulation can be supported by gradually modifying the emotional characteristics of music to help individuals transition to a desired emotional state. Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to either a music intervention group or a control group. The intervention group will receive personalized music playlists designed to help reduce stress, anxiety and depression. The control group will not receive any music intervention during the same period. Outcomes will be measured using self-report questionnaires assessing stress, emotional state, and well-being. The study is designed to contribute to the development of accessible, non-invasive stress management tools using music as a behavioral intervention.

Conditions

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression in Adults

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	ISO Principle Music Intervention	Participants will receive music playlists designed according to the ISO principle, which involves matching the participant's current emotional state and gradually transitioning to music reflecting a desired mood. The intervention aims to reduce stress and support emotional regulation by guiding affective resonance through music progression.
BEHAVIORAL	DUL Principle Music Intervention	Participants will receive music playlists based on the compensation principle, where the music contrasts the participant's current emotional state by directly presenting tracks aligned with the desired emotional outcome (e.g., calm music for stressed mood). This approach seeks to counteract stress and shift affective states through musical contrast.
BEHAVIORAL	ISO Principle Music Intervention with Waiting-list	Participants will receive music playlists designed according to the IS0 principle, which involves matching the participant's current emotional state and gradually transitioning to music reflecting a desired mood. The intervention aims to reduce stress and support emotional regulation by guiding affective resonance through music progression. The intervention will be delivered to participants after 5 day's waiting.
BEHAVIORAL	DUL Principle Music Intervention with Waiting-list	Participants will receive music playlists based on the compensation principle, where the music contrasts the participant's current emotional state by directly presenting tracks aligned with the desired emotional outcome (e.g., calm music for stressed mood). This approach seeks to counteract stress and shift affective states through musical contrast. The intervention will be delivered to participants after 5 days' waiting.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-04-23
• Primary completion: 2026-06-30
• Completion: 2026-12-12
• First posted: 2025-07-08
• Last updated: 2026-02-17

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: China