Negative Feelings among Adolescents and Music Listening Behavior: The Interaction with Gender and Music Involvement

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the relation between negative feelings among adolescents and three functions of music listening: the social function, emotion regulation and coping. Furthermore, the relation between negative feelings and the frequency of music listening is. examined. These associations are controlled for gender and music involvement. This study used data from Qrius (2007). The 928 respondents included in this study were 13 to 24 years old, 74% women (M = 19,14, SD = 2.60). The results of a MANOVA showed that adolescents with more negative feelings used the functions of music listening more often and listened to music more often. However, these associations were attenuated when they were checked for gender and music involvement. Music involvement seemed to be a stronger predictor of music listening behavior than negative feelings; adolescents with a higher level of music involvement listened more to music as a social function, emotion regulation strategy and coping strategy and also listened to music more frequently. Implications for further research are discussed.