Study finds women over 40 seek raves as a mental health improvement 

Published in the journal Psychology of Music, a recent study found that women aged over 40 seek raves as a mental and physical health benefit.

With electronic music making the headlines once again, a recent study at the University of Leeds in England has now found that women aged between 40 and 65 experience measurable mental health benefits when attending electronic dance music events.

Published in the journal Psychology of Music, this study primarily focuses on the common misconception that nightlife is exclusively for younger audiences, and in turn, challenges this cultural narrative as a whole. Collecting data from 136 female clubbers aged 40 to 65, the results were quite in favour of electronic dance music and its significant impact on each of their mental and physical well-being. 

Delving deeper into the findings, and with wanting to see their favourite DJs ranking as the top reason, it was also their need to dance that acted as a form of releasing stress and providing that emotional support they truly craved. Moreover, 65.9% described the experience of attending a rave as “spiritual,” with 62.9% reviewing it as an escape from everyday life, and 58.3% envisioning themselves as a different version when in a club environment.

Adding to this, 90% of participants felt at home when attending events of such nature, as their passion for music allowed them to embrace the community as a whole. Besides the mental benefits, data showed that physical fitness was also a beneficial component of raving, as some participants claimed to have integrated clubbing into their regular workout routine, as a more fun way of achieving their goals. 

Intriguing by all means, a fair amount of challenges also arose, with one fifth of the participants feeling visibly out of place because of their older age, whilst nearly half also reported unwanted physical contact that led to them seeking different venues or only going to events with mutual friends. Two sides to every coin, you can read the full study and its findings here.