Role of Music in Emotional Regulation Among Late Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescence is a transitional period causing emotional instability and an increased need to regulate one’s emotions. Music is considered especially important during adolescence because it can evoke as well as regulate listeners’ emotional states (Eerola & Vuoskoski, 2013). Studies indicate that mood regulation is often seen as one of the most important reasons for listening to music. Music can serve as a coping mechanism to regulate their emotional states.  Convenience sampling was used in an exploratory research design to examine the impact of music on emotional regulation in late adolescents aged 17 to 19 years. Sixty one adolescents were administered The Brief- Music and Mood Regulation Scale (B-MMR) developed by Saarikallio (2012). A large majority of respondents preferred Spotify as the music platform used often to listen to music. There is a significant difference among male and female late adolescents (mean = 2.84 and 3.12, respectively), with p = 0.028 regarding discharge as a response-focussed strategy for emotional disclosure through music. Most people preferred to listen to music by themselves as opposed to with others. The results of this study may be used to inform the creation of focused methods for maximizing music’s emotional impact on adolescents.