7 Reasons Taylor Swift Is Good for Her Fans' Mental Health

Source: Photo courtesy of Michael J. De Lazzer

Taylor Swift’s influence has been with us for a long while now. And unlike others who gained fame in their youth but fell from a “State of Grace,” she is doing more than simply holding up. She and her Swifties are thriving. It’s a subculture, but I didn’t yet get it. So I went to "The Eras Tour" movie to try to better understand the trend.

While in line, a cheerful stranger wearing cowboy boots and a dress greeted my husband and me. (In Los Angeles, that kind of “Fearless” friendliness is rarely experienced.) She asked if we'd been to the concert. I said no. She talked about the “Afterglow” the concert gave her and then complimented me on the movie merch cup I was holding.

Shortly after, someone else, again gleeful, trekked over to my husband and me. She handed us pink and orange friendship bracelets to wear. Mine said TS and his Paris. (So cute! And how cool that we obvious outsiders were so welcomed!)

As people filled the theater, we noticed moms with kids wearing sparkly dresses. Dads showed up with their young ones, too. Probably 10 percent of the attendees were male-appearing.

Are You “…Ready For It?”

Once The Eras Tour film began, I kept glancing behind me. Contrary to complaints about theater-going Swiftie fans “ruining” the experience, the enthusiasm was robust and quite polite. The whole theater danced while seated in their chairs and sang along. It was impossible to avoid the sense of connection and joy—all driven by love “Evermore” for Taylor Swift. I left the film feeling better and happier than my “Champagne Problems” had left me earlier in the day.

Shortly after my Eras experience, CalPsychiatry emailed an invite to a discussion group with Brian Donovan, a sociology professor at the University of Kansas who teaches a course on "The Sociology of Taylor Swift." OK. I still wanted my “Epiphany” about Swift's power.

Our group included around 25 therapists and psychiatrists—some were Swifties, and others were, like me, filled with curioSwifty. (Get it?) The discussions’ initial “Blank Space” immediately filled with stories of how Swift has touched both therapists and their clients alike, and I began to piece together the likely mental health benefits that Taylor Swift's fandom seems to offer.

“You Belong With Me”

• Sense of belonging. Swifties share a global connectedness. No matter the divisiveness in the larger culture, they unite. Though I don’t personally know all the fandom terminology, the minute I received that friendship bracelet, I’d been welcomed into the community, and human beings need social connectedness and a sense of belonging to thrive.
• Intergenerational bonding. Generations share an appreciation of Swift and her music. Many women grew up with Swift's music and now their kids are growing up with Swift and her music. Instead of a generational gap, there’s intergenerational bonding over a shared interest and icon: Swift. What a powerful familial, intergenerational experience.

“Breathe”

• Coping skills. As good storytelling and music do, Swift’s music and lyrics offer comfort to and coping for many. (Just listen to them.) Having and using healthy coping skills is a huge part of mental wellness.
• Emotion expressiveness/regulation. Swift’s lyrics validate emotional experiences. They seem to teach people a lot about labeling and expressing their own feelings. I believe this is a significant benefit because research shows that an inability to identify and discuss feelings is linked to poor mental health (Weissman et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2023).

“Speak Now”

• Inspiring messages. With her platform, Swift often delivers humble and valuable life lessons. As she said in her 2022 New York University commencement address: "Learn to live alongside cringe...Cringe is unavoidable over a lifetime. Even the term ‘cringe’ might someday be deemed ‘cringe.’" Kind but real talk like this may provide fans with coping affirmations and motivational quotes that counter negative thinking and self-judgment.

“Change”

• Humor. Taylor Swift appears to not take herself too seriously. Many of us could probably also benefit from being less “Mean” to ourselves. I imagine that this role modeling positively influences fans.
• Mental health awareness. Various songs reference struggles with mental health. I love that she brings that into the public eye, reducing the shame surrounding mental health issues and increasing awareness.

Happiness Essential Reads

How to Cultivate a Sense of Purpose

3 Ideas from Aristotle on How to Build a Good Life

“You Can Call It What You Want,” but Here’s Some “Closure”

There’s a lot to be revealed about the sociology and science of Swift’s impact. A survey released earlier this month suggested that "some artists have a more positive impact on the mood and wellbeing of young people than others, with Taylor Swift coming out on top (32%) as having the most positive effects."

I get it. While not exactly a “Love Story,” Swift and her Swifties have, at the least, left me in a “Lavender Haze.” It’s kinda contagious in a feel-good way.

Facebook/LinkedIn image: Brian Friedman/Shutterstock