With Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, due to be gracing the headphones of Swifties everywhere from Friday, the Mental Health Foundation is highlighting the benefits the release of a new Taylor Swift album will bring to the mental health of many people in the UK.
Since the early days of Taylor Swift and Fearless, the singer’s music has commanded a dedicated and passionate fanbase, from those who casually Shake it Off once in a while, to the expert Swifties pouring over the lyrics of Right Where You Left Me for clues about the singer’s inner thoughts.
But less appreciated are the benefits a new album release from Taylor Swift’s music can bring to people’s mental health – so here’s why the Mental Health Foundation is so happy to see TS12 hit the shelves:
Swifties are a huge inclusive community – and that’s good for our wellbeing
Taylor Swift promotes an inclusive and supportive community – perhaps one of the largest common communities in the world – and her music forms ‘an invisible string’ that ties all those fans together. Estimations for her fanbase run anywhere from nine to ten figures, so no matter where you are, it’s likely you’ll be able to strike up a conversation with someone about Taylor Swift.
A sense of strong community in our lives – whether that be where we live, where we work, or the common interests that bind us – is one of the core building blocks of good mental health. Last year’s Eras tour – replete with the sharing of friendship bracelets and stories of fans meeting friends for life in queues and stadium crowds - is a fantastic example of how a common interest can bind us together.
The release of a new album provides people with a common moment for celebration and community. If you’re not a Taylor Swift fan, think of how many of us feel on Christmas – then apply it to millions of passionate fans in the UK. That sense of community will be a real benefit to the mental health of those community members.
It’s something to look forward to!
TS12 has already been having an impact on some people’s mental health, even though it’s not out yet - because having something positive to look forward to in the future can help us cope with difficult times.
Making plans for things we enjoy can increase our sense of hope, which is important for our mental health. With the world feeling like a particularly difficult place at the moment, having something like a new album to look forward to (as well as a wedding on the horizon!) will have provided a lot to look forward to for Swifties.
Music is a powerful tool for emotional expression – and Taylor’s music is full of it.
Multiple studies show that music gives those of us who may struggle to process and express our emotions in a healthy way – what psychologists refer to as lower emotional awareness - an outlet to do so.
By recognising the lyrics that resonate with us – maybe it’s “I've never been a natural, all I do is try try and try” or “My midnights become my afternoons” – we can recognise how our experiences are not only shared with others, but something entirely valid to feel.
We can find the words to express issues way may have been facing, but could never voice – “I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser” – and use that as the basis for seeking help.
Taylor is open about her body-image issues
Taylor’s ‘Miss Americana’ documentary bravely tackled the singer’s relationship with her body image and the expectations society has more broadly for the bodies of women in the public eye. By talking so candidly about her issues, Swift serves as a role model for fans in not just helping them examine their own relationship with their body image.
MHF research shows that aiming for an unrealistic body image can create unhelpful attitudes about ourselves. We convince ourselves that we should strive for perfection based on what we perceive around us, but we do know, realistically, no one is perfect. By having one of the world’s biggest stars show her own struggles with ‘perfection,’ it helps us reinforce how unrealistic this standard is, and also feel more prepared to discuss our own issues.
Moving’s good for our mental health
This one’s fairly self explanatory, but getting up and dancing around the room to the biggest hit from a new album is great for our mental health.
Exercise releases “feel good” hormones that reduce feelings of stress and anger. It also helps us feel better about our bodies, and can improve our sleep too.
It’s even better if it’s done outdoors, so if you can, get into your garden and spend some time dancing like nobody can see you (and with a new Taylor Swift album out, chances are your neighbours are probably dancing along too.)
New albums generate positive discussions
Whenever a new Taylor Swift album comes out, websites and WhatsApp groups are set ablaze with discussion about what the new album means, the secret meanings behind the lyrics, and which songs will become instant classics.
These sorts of discussions can be a real benefit to our sense of connection with one another – research by MHF earlier this year showed around three quarters (76%) of young people report feeling very or somewhat connected with others through online communities. Two thirds (63%) say they’ve been in an online community which had made them feel more confident or supported in who they are.
By providing a positive source of discussion around a mutual interest that addresses topics like body confidence, anxiety around relationships, and processing of emotions, Taylor Swift’s albums do a lot to remind us that even in an era of increasingly polarised discussions, there are still things which can bring us together.
Dr David Crepaz-Keay, Head of Research and Applied Learning at Mental Health Foundation, said:
“Research shows that music can influence our mental health, bringing benefits from helping us figure out the way we express and process our emotions to giving us a reason to get up off our chairs and have a dance around the kitchen.
“With Swifties making up one of the most widespread, inclusive, and passionate fan communities in the world, the release of the twelfth Taylor Swift album will be a very real benefit for their mental health. The Life of a Showgirl will be a positive source of community, hope and joy as fans pour over the lyrics, discuss their favourite songs, and find new ways to connect with one another. One only needs to look at the sharing of friendship bracelets between fans of all ages at last year's Eras tour to see the kind of positive influence communities like this can have.
“Even if you’re not a Taylor Swift fan yourself, the release of her new album is a powerful reminder of the impact major cultural moments can have on our mental health. While for some of us these moments will be the release of a new Taylor Swift album, for others it will be England getting to the finals of a major sporting event, or the beginning of a new series of The Traitors. Community and shared interests are vital parts of reinforcing our mental health, and we encourage everyone – no matter what your interest is – to find those moments to look forward to and come together.”