Going to concerts helps you live longer, according to research

A study says live gigs could increase well-being by 21 percent

Ilana Kaplan
Wednesday 02 May 2018 13:26 BST
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Going to concerts helps you live longer, according to new research

Going to a gig will help you live longer, according to new research.

According to a new study by O2 - which owns some of the largest music venues in the UK - alongside Goldsmith University's Associate Lecturer Patrick Fagan, regularly attending live shows can help expand your lifespan.

The study says that 20 minutes at a show "can lead to a 21 percent increase in that feeling of well-being."

Even more research says that going to gigs "directly links high levels of well-being with a lifespan increase of nine years."

This means that there could be a connection between attending concerts and how long you live.

"Our research showcases the profound impact gigs have on feelings of health, happiness and well-being - with fortnightly or regular attendance being the key," Fagan said.

To determine the results of the study, test subjects participated in "psychometric testing and heart rate tests" as they did activities that were positive for their health including attending concerts, doing yoga and dog-walking.

Results showed that people who attended gigs had an increase of 25 percent in feelings of self worth and closeness to others and a 75 percent increase in mental stimulation.

While the study found that Brits preferred going to concerts instead of listening to music at home, music in general has been found to increase happiness.

In 2013, research in Finland determined that "children who took part in singing classes had higher satisfaction rates at school."

A study by a team at University of Missouri published research in The Journal of Positive Psychology stating that joyful music had a "significantly positive effect" on good health.

"Combining all of our findings with O2's research, we arrive at a prescription of a gig a fortnight which could pave the way for almost a decade more years of life," Fagan explained.

It sounds like a live gig should be interspersed with your yoga regimen.

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