ABSTRACT

The relationship between mood regulation through music and those dealing with less severe mental illnesses such as anxiety, chronic stress, and emotional overload is, to date, not well expanded on. Mood irregularities and less severe mental disorders affect most of the population daily; music is an affordable and easily accessible tool that can be used as a tactic to maintain the mental health of those who would like to minimize mood irregularities. This study aimed to explore mood regulation through music by matching a musical genre to a current emotional state with attempts to regulate anxiety, stress, and less severe mental health disorders, as well as acquiring an understanding for music as a mood regulator for the benefit of personal emotional improvement. This study further explored the relationship between hours of music listening per week and the ability to influence a current emotional state with music. It additionally explored topics of comparison, such as having a previously diagnosed mental health condition and the willingness of an individual to partake in mood matching therapy. The present research has utilized a quasi-experimental design, having one singular group for study. Participants were expected to complete an online survey containing questions on their frequency of listening to music, emotional influence of musical composure, and how participants would proceed with the use of music as a mood regulator following their involvement within the study. Analysis demonstrated a trend towards significance in relation to the variables of having been previously diagnosed with a mental health condition and the willingness to use music as a mood regulator in place of prescription medications. The survey has concluded that there is no significant relationship between favored genre type and willingness to participate in mood regulation through music. Mood matching therapy should not be overlooked as a mindfulness-style anxiety management technique because it is easily accessible but rather turned to firsthand as a tool for recovery. Regulation of mood through music is a principle of daily life that can be utilized to decrease mood irregularities of those with less severe mental health disorders.