CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A recent study found electronic dance music (EDM) festivals provide a mental health boost for women over the age of 40.
According to a recent study published in the journal Psychology of Music, older women report experiencing a mental health boost after attending EDM events.
(Photo by Steven Lawton/Getty Images)
The study was conducted by the University of Leeds, and involved data collected from 136 women in the EDM community between the ages of 40 and 65. It found that middle-aged women are both attending and returning to electronic dance music events largely for the music, artists, social connection and mental health benefits.
The survey found that music was the top reason for attending EDM events, with 56.6% of respondents ranking it as their No. 1 motivation. Socializing with existing friends was the second-most important reason at 30.9%, while the atmosphere and sense of community also ranked highly. Researchers said the findings show that clubbing remains important to women well into middle age and beyond.
The study also found that family responsibilities can shape who continues to participate. Earlier research cited by the authors found that women were more likely than men to change their clubbing habits in line with parental responsibilities, and some previous participants said they withdrew from the scene because they felt clubbing was incompatible with motherhood and other adult roles. The new study said many women who stayed involved developed strategies to balance clubbing with work and family life.
(Photo by Steven Lawton/Getty Images)
Mental health benefits were a major theme in the survey. Nearly all respondents – 91% – said clubbing contributed positively to their wellbeing. The study found that 62.9% said they go clubbing to escape everyday life, 65.9% described it as a spiritual experience, and 58.3% said they can be a different version of themselves in that setting.
Researchers said the benefits often outweighed the downsides. Many respondents described dancing as therapeutic, with one saying it helps manage stress and another saying it leaves them energized and recharged. The study also found that 87.5% said clubbing helps them connect with themselves and others, and 82.9% said they had made long-lasting friendships through the scene.
The study authors said older women’s experiences in EDM are shaped by both age and gender, but that many continue to return because the events offer music, community and a mental reset.
The study concluded that older women continue to find value in EDM through music, community, self-expression and escape, but that their participation is shaped by broader social expectations about aging and femininity. Researchers said the findings could help the EDM industry address barriers to inclusion for older attendees and others who may feel excluded.
To read the study, you can click HERE.