Degrees of familiar and affective music and their effects on state anxiety

Author(s): Miller, Richard

Journal/Book: Journal of Music Therapy. 1980; 17: 2-15.

Abstract: Investigated the possibilities of using music to reduce anxiety in high-anxiety Ss. 321 introductory psychology students were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment conditions or to the control group. Comparable forms of the Eight State Questionnaire were administered before and after treatment. The main hypothesis that music (as opposed to no music) would reduce anxiety was not supported. (48 ref) ABSTRACT 2: The success of the therapeutic use of music in various institutions and other research settings has pointed to the possibilities of using music to reduce anxiety in high-anxiety subjects. Ten sections of introductory psychology students (n=321) were randomly assigned to one of four treatment conditions or the control group. Forms A and B of the Eight State Questionnaire (8SQ) were administered in a counterbalanced fashion prior to and following the music (or no music) treatment. Results proved to be statistically nonsignificant. However, a trend was noted for sedative music to have some anxiety-reducing effects upon high state anxiety subjects. Implications of the study and a need for research investigating the effects of music on simultaneous psychological and physiological measures of anxiety were discussed.

Note: familiar & affective music; reduction of anxiety; college students

Keyword(s): Music therapy; anxiety. music, music-listening, familiar, affective-response, anxiety, anxiety-reduction.

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