The Psychological and Biological Impact of “In-Person” vs. “Virtual” Choir Singing in Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Study Before and After the Acute Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Austria

Biopsychological responses to music-related activities (MRA) have been examined previously in various naturalistic settings in adults. Choir singing in particular seems to be associated with positive biopsychological outcomes. However, evidence on the biopsychological effectiveness of MRA in youth is sparse. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is significantly affecting society now and in the future, including how individuals engage with music and whether they can take part in musical activities at all. The COVID-19 pandemic is occurring at a time when virtual participation in cultural and musical experiences such as singing in a virtual choir has become more prevalent. However, it remains unclear whether virtual choir singing is feasible in youth and whether it leads to different biopsychological responses in comparison with live singing. We evaluated the feasibility and the biopsychological effects of a live choir singing intervention (7 weeks, from January to March 2020, before the COVID-19 outbreak) in comparison with the effects of a virtual choir singing intervention (7 weeks, from May to July 2020, after schools partly re-opened in Austria) in a naturalistic pilot controlled within-subject study. A group of youth (N = 5, age range 10–13, female = 2) from a school in Salzburg were recruited to take part in the study. Subjective measures (momentary mood, stress) were taken pre- and post-singing sessions once a week. Additionally, salivary biomarkers (cortisol und alpha amylase) and social contacts were assessed pre- and post-singing sessions every second week. Emotional and social competences, self-esteem, and chronic stress levels were measured at the beginning of the live choir singing intervention and at the beginning and the end of the virtual choir singing intervention. Furthermore, we conducted semi-structured interviews at the end of the virtual choir period to better understand the role of choir singing after the lockdown and the participants’ experiences with the virtual choir singing. The data from the study is currently being analysed; the results will be presented in this paper.