Women aged between 40-65 say clubbing benefits their mental health, study finds

Women between the ages of 40 and 65 benefit mentally from clubbing, according to a resurfaced study from the University of Leeds.

The study, published in April 2025 by the journal Psychology of Music, looked at “older women’s motivations” for participating in dance music events and their wider experiences clubbing.

After surveying 136 female clubbers over the age of 40, the study found that women predominantly notice a positive impact on their mental health as a result of going on nights out.

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Those surveyed said that clubbing gives a release from the pressures of daily life and is a good outlet for self-expression, with 92.1% agreeing that they feel at home at dance music events.

Of the 136 surveyed, most (81.6%) said that they have been attending electronic music events for over 20 years, while 91.2% said they attend those events at least four to six times a year.

Almost all participants (91%) agreed that clubbing and nights out contribute positively to their sense of wellbeing, while two-thirds (65.2%) said they use drugs to enhance the experience.

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Over half (58.1%) said that they had received “positive comments” from other clubbers, though over 20% said they sometimes feel like they shouldn’t be at those events because of their age.

While the majority of women surveyed said that they mostly attend club nights (84.5%), many also said they frequent festivals (81.6%), and some (25.7%) said they attend illegal raves.

In response to the survey, one 53-year-old participant said: “There’s just an acceptance and understanding between people with likeminded musical and recreational drug taking experience that negates the whole age thing.”

Read the full study here.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Associate Digital Editor, follow her on X