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

NCT ID: NCT07055061

Last Updated: 2025-07-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 200 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-04-23
• Study Completion Date: 2026-12-12

Brief 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

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

ISO Group

Participants in this group will receive a music intervention based on the ISO principle. The playlists are designed to gradually shift emotional states by starting with music that matches the participant's current mood and progressing toward tracks that reflect the desired emotional state, aiming to promote stress reduction and emotional regulation.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

ISO Principle Music Intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

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.

Compensation Group

Participants in this group will receive a music intervention based on the compensation principle. The playlists directly contrast the participant's current emotional state by immediately introducing music that represents the target mood (e.g., relaxing music for a stressed state), with the aim of counteracting stress and promoting emotional change.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Compensation Principle Music Intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

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.

Interventions

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.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Compensation 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.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Has completed education at the associate degree level or higher
• Has at least one year of stable full-time work experience
• Maintains a regular and stable daily routine

Exclusion Criteria

• Current or recent use of medication or history of surgical treatment
• History of psychiatric disorders
• Hearing impairments
• Female participants who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding

• Minimum Eligible Age: 20 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Tsinghua University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Shanghai Mental Health Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Yue DING

Associate Research Fellow

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

The Department of Psychology of Tsinghua University

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status: COMPLETED

Tsinghua University

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

China

Central Contacts

Dan Zhang

Role: CONTACT

dzhang@tsinghua.edu.cn

8613810433221

Facility Contacts

Dan Zhang

Role: primary

dzhang@tsinghua.edu.cn

8613810433221

Other Identifiers

62101324

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

THU0420251002

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id