MESOC Serapeum | Where culture meets AI

Id		1000
Author		Tessa Mae Whelden
Title		The Contribution of Music Involvement to the Wellbeing of College Students
Reference		Tessa Mae Whelden The Contribution of Music Involvement to the Wellbeing of College Students
Link to article		https://digitalcollections.wesleyan.edu/object/ir%3A3213
Abstract		Research has shown that music plays an immense role in our lives, but very little is known about the relationship between music and wellbeing. In this two-part study, twenty Wesleyan University college students were interviewed for a qualitative analysis of the role music plays in the lives of college students, according to them. Fifty additional students participated in a study that manipulated music involvement by depriving participants of music listening for one week. The Psychological Wellbeing Scale was then used to measure whether there was any correlation between music listening and wellbeing, and thus the role of music in wellbeing. Only 12 participants fully deprived themselves of music for seven days straight, with an additional 15 who partially deprived themselves. The greatest reported decline in wellbeing scores was for the group who partially deprived themselves, revealing the possibility that music listening is normative and deprivation is against human nature, and only those who were able to deprive themselves of music reported the smallest decline because deprivation was easier for them to do. The feasibility of a study like this should be re-examined in hopes of determining a clearer link between music involvement and wellbeing with fewer possible external factors influencing the results.

Results:

Candidate transition variables
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes wellbeing as a positive outcome that is meaningful for people and for many sectors of a society, because it tells us that people perceive that their lives are going well (CDC, 2018). .
Wellbeing is more simply defined as the presence of life satisfaction, and positive emotions. .
They found it exhilarating, an emotional release, and a good way to boost my ego. .
When reflecting back on performance experiences, most participants were grateful and happy for the experience. .
Participants shared that there was a sense of community, and feelings of happiness and success when congregating together. .
So I liked being the best one. .
Other answers were understanding the song, devotionputting your soul into the music that youre making, and being dedicated. .
Most of all, the love for music brought a fulfilling, calming, and happy experience to participants. .
Choral singing, for example, increases feelings of support and decreases feelings of isolation; playing instruments in an ensemble has a similar effect. .
The more pleasure that is associated with music leads to more passion for the source of joy. .
Inspiration was also stronger when participants could relate to the artist, either in terms of lyrical content, gender, ethnicity, or life experience. .
There are multiple forms of wellbeing that might involve music, including physical wellbeing, social wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, and more broadly, psychological wellbeing. .
The tool for creative expression. .
Participants shared that it makes them happy, releases stress, energizes them, relaxes them, motivates them, helps them focus when studying, facilitates connections with others, and inspires them. .
An artists versatility was also important to many participants, in being inventive and having an incessant need to create. .
Listeners may be drawn to artists because of this quality. .
Music has an influence on the human body that is beneficial to becoming more empathetic, communicable, and satisfied with life. .
They also found that it brought people together, created connections with people who may not be like themselves, and also facilitated a connection between the person and the music. .
One way to reduce anxiety, such as performance anxiety, is through cognitive restructuring, and more broadly cognitive behavioral therapy. .
Other responses were because of the variety and possibility of music, and because it is a powerful way to track history and culture. .
There were many participants who were drawn to an artists creativity and originality; they described their favorite artists as creative, artful, and even pioneers of a new genre. .
Responses varied greatly, from being a form of entertainment, to something that is beautiful and meaningful, as well as a means of connection with others, and a way to associate life experiences. .
Listeners are then able to grow through the streaming platform, but also hone into their own preferences if they so choose. .
And its a skill that people will really appreciate later in life. .
Future research could also investigate the satisfaction that stems from performing, as well as how different forms of performance affect that level of satisfaction. .

ARTICLE - CANDIDATE TRANSITION VARIABLES

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