Brief Report: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Music to Obtain More Accurate Blood Pressure Readings in Children with Williams Syndrome

Abstract

This study examined if listening to music will improve the accuracy of blood pressure (BP) readings in children with Williams syndrome (WS). Fifty-two participants (7-12 years) were randomly assigned to a music or non-music group. BPs were obtained at two time points. There was a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic BP from Time 1 to Time 2 for everyone. Participants from the music group had lower systolic BP readings at Time 2 than participants in the non-music group (Cohen's d = 0.33). Systolic BP readings were approximately 3.8 mmHg lower in the music group. Music may be beneficial in obtaining more accurate systolic BP readings in children with WS.

Keywords: Anxiety; Blood pressure; Music; Williams syndrome.