Systematic review and meta-analysis on the psychological effects of song lyrics: A perspective from critical music education

Abstract

In recent decades, music education has increasingly recognized the impact of music as a cultural phenomenon on students. Particularly, the influence of lyrics has been explored in various psychological studies due to their capacity to convey narratives and imagery that shape perceptions of reality and interpersonal relationships. This study aims to assess the psychological effects of song lyrics on listeners. To address this, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA protocol, including 82 studies and 42 dependent variables, respectively. The results reveal medium effects on cognitive-behavioral and attitudinal levels, and high effects on emotional levels, all consistent with the conveyed messages. These findings align with broader research on music’s psychological impact and can be explained by various theoretical models. Finally, it is suggested that critical music education could effectively intervene in students’ learning processes by teaching them to critically analyze song narratives in their daily lives.