Studies // Cited work

The role of music in adolescents' mood regulation

Saarikallio, S., & Erkkilä, J. (2007). The role of music in adolescents' mood regulation.

Level D Qualitative study doi:10.1177/0305735607068889

What this study supports

Supports the claim that adolescents describe distinct music-based mood-regulation strategies, including discharge. A very small qualitative sample that describes strategies rather than measuring effects.

Who was studied
Eight adolescents in group interviews with follow-up forms, analysed with grounded theory.
Design
Qualitative study
Level of evidence
Cross-sectional, observational, qualitative work and narrative reviews.

Claims that rest on it

Each claim states what the site asserts, at what strength, and with what caveat.

EmpiricalLevel DConfidence HIGH

People across adolescence and adulthood describe using music to regulate emotion, and self-reported use is associated with preferences for energetic, rhythmic music and with higher neuroticism.

Scope
Qualitative interviews (8 adolescents; 21 adults aged 21 to 70), a survey of 794 students and a meta-analysis of 13 correlational studies (r = .22 for neuroticism).
Caveat
These data describe use and correlates of use, not whether music regulation is effective.

Last reviewed · Review due · music-used-for-emotion-regulation

EmpiricalLevel DConfidence MODERATE

Discharge, releasing anger or sadness through music that matches or expresses it, is described as one of several distinct music-based regulation strategies, alongside diversion, solace and working through feelings.

Scope
Strategy descriptions from qualitative research and an integrative review of 34 publications.
Caveat
The original taxonomy comes from eight adolescents, and the literature uses its terms inconsistently.

Last reviewed · Review due · music-discharge-strategy