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PSYC5021 QUANTITATIVE
INDIVIDUAL REPORT –
Exploring how young people
use music to cope with stress.
ABSTRACT
Music has become increasingly important as our lives get busier. Due to its
impact on emotions and well-being, researchers are examining how often
people utilise music to decrease stress. This research examines how teens
manage stress with music. An exploratory sequential mixed approach will
help studies in succession. First, a qualitative study using open-ended
questions to examine how music influences mood and stress. The first study's
themes provided a theoretical model operationalized into variables using
questionnaire scores to identify essential constructs. Second quantitative
study with larger younger sample tested this approach. In this essay, we
delve into the hypothesis that music serves as a coping mechanism,
impacting mood and behaviour, and ultimately contributing to stress
reduction.
INTRODUCTION
Several studies have specifically examined the correlation between
music and emotions as well as overall mental and physical health. The
importance of music in our lives has evolved into a topic of great fascination,
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in a world that is increasingly getting busier and demanding. Researchers are
currently investigating the degree to which individuals utilise music in the
realm of human experience, music holds a unique position as a
universal language that transcends cultural boundaries.
Beyond mere entertainment, it has been an integral part of
human life, influencing emotions, behaviour, and overall well-
being. In this essay, we delve into the hypothesis that music
serves as a coping mechanism, impacting mood and
behaviour, and ultimately contributing to stress reduction.
According to a study conducted by Witte et al. (2020), music therapy is
progressively employed as an intervention to alleviate stress in medical and
mental healthcare environments. According to Witte et al. (2020), stress can
be defined as the subjective perception of an experience, arising from the
interaction between a person and their environment, which might lead to
physiological or psychological discomfort.
Furthermore, reactions to stress can be associated with heightened
physiological arousal and distinct emotional states, while the underlying
mechanisms of these reactions mutually regulate and influence one another
during periods of stress. The stress-reducing impact of music therapy
interventions can be attributed to both the inherent qualities of music and the
ongoing adjustment of music by the music therapist to cater to the specific
requirements of each patient.
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In addition, music therapists utilise the distinct characteristics of music, such
as melody, rhythm, speed, dynamics, and pitch, in the therapeutic alliance to
tap into patients' emotions and memories, as well as to address social
interactions or impact behaviour. The ability of the music therapist to be
responsive to the patient's needs can be seen as the fundamental skills
required for this profession. These skills involve the interactions between the
therapist and the patient, which facilitate coordination, empathy, and the
sharing of viewpoints. During music therapy, the music therapist precisely
adjusts the music made in instant reaction to the patient's demands, thereby
attuning to the patient.
The study conducted by Witte et al. (2020) revealed a substantial and
statistically significant impact (d = 0.723, [0.51, 0.94]) of music therapy to
outcomes related to stress. This suggests that individuals who received music
therapy experienced greater benefits compared to those who did not. Their
conclusion asserts that music therapy is efficacious in mitigating stress-
induced symptoms in both mental healthcare and medical environments.
Furthermore, Xue et al. (2018) conducted a study to assess the influence of
various self-centered emotions on music preference, without the participants
listening to any music. The participants' emotional state (sad, joyful, or
neutral) was deliberately controlled using the mood induction approach.
Subsequently, their music preferences were determined using self-reports.
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