The Relationship between Characteristic Moods and Most Commonly Listened To Types of Music

Author(s): Zalanowski, Annette H.

Journal/Book: Jorunal of Music Therapy. 1997; XXXIV: 129-140.

Abstract: Three samples of participants were surveyed to determine their characteristic moods and the types of music they typically listened to. The samples included college students, college faculty and staff, and a random sample of noncollege related adults. Participants were asked to report how many hours per week, on average, they listened to various styles of music. They also responded to a standardized mood questionnaire in terms of how they typically feel. Correlations were calculated between mood and hours of listening to the various styles of music. Among the college students, listening to rock was positively correlated with anxiety, depression, and sensation seeking, and negatively correllated with positive affect. Among the faculty staff, classical music-listening was positively correlated with depression, anxiety, and hostility, while total music listening was positively correlated with depresion and negatively correlated positive affect. Among the noncollege adults, only a small correlation between classical music and positive affect was found. Results suggest that music-listening is more related to mood among younger and more educated individuals. The most likely interpretation of the relationship is that negative moods lead to music listening rather than music-listening causing negative moods.

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