Music Genre Stereotypes to Boost Relaxation in Chronic Pain Patients

Social psychological research has demonstrated that internalized stereotypes affect people's attitudes and behaviors. Music-based interventions that rely on stereotypes might have promise for keeping participants engaged in health interventions, reducing stress, and improving wellbeing.

Group Assignments Participants will be randomized into one of three groups. Group 1 (Reggae): Participants in this group will receive the stereotype and listen to the music over the 4 weeks. Group 2 (Nature): Participants in this group will listen to nature sounds over the 4 weeks. Music Waitlist Group: Participants in this group will serve as a control and will not receive any intervention until the study is completed. They will complete a baseline survey and a follow-up survey at four weeks. Some recordings will be sent to this group after the study is completed, without tracking their usage. Intervention All groups will complete a baseline and 4-week follow-up survey. Participants in Group 1 and Group 2 will engage in daily listening 4-week intervention.They will have access to electronic audio recordings, with the order of listening labeled for each day. It is up to them if they want to listen to the daily recordings.

Group 1 (Reggae): Participants in this group will be told about he stereotype of reggae in making people more calm. They will listen to reggae music over the 4 weeks.

Group 2 (Nature): Participants in this group will listen to nature sounds over the 4 weeks and will not be told any stereotypes.

Music Waitlist Group: Participants in this group will serve as a control and will not receive any intervention until the study is completed. They will complete a baseline survey and a follow-up survey at four weeks. Some recordings will be sent to this group after the study is completed, without tracking their usage.

Participants in this group will be told about he stereotype of reggae in making people more calm. They will listen to reggae music over the 4 weeks. Each day, we will send them a playlist to listen to.

Participants in this group will NOT be told the stereotype for the audio they are listening to. They will listen to nature sounds over the 4 weeks. Each day, we will send them a playlist to listen to.

Participants' overall satisfaction with the treatment will be measured using the Patients' Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale.

Pain self-efficacy, which refers to participants' confidence in their ability to manage pain, will be assessed using the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire.

Inclusion Criteria: Are 18+ Live in the US Are an English-proficient adult with a chronic pain diagnosis (no restrictions placed on type) Have a pain rating of four or greater in average pain on a 0-10 numeric rating scale in the preceding week Have had pain for at least 3 months and for at least 15 days in the preceding 30 days Have moderate to severe anxiety based on GAD-7 Exclusion Criteria: Are currently using or have used prescription opioids in the past 3 months to minimize a known treatment confound and increase sample homogeneity Have a current cancer diagnosis