TITLE:
Associations between Music Listening Habits and Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
AUTHORS:
Rocco de Filippis, Abdullah Al Foysal
KEYWORDS:
Music Listening, Mental Health, Anxiety, Depression, Insomnia, Genre Preference
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.4,
April
30,
2025
ABSTRACT: Music plays a significant role in human emotions and psychological well-being. This study examines the associations between music listening habits and mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), using a survey-based, cross-sectional design. Through exploratory data analysis, we identify patterns in music consumption and their potential links to self-reported mental health status. The dataset includes responses from a diverse group of individuals, capturing their primary streaming services, daily listening duration, favourite music genres, and psychological well-being measures. Our findings indicate that individuals with extreme mental health scores (both high and low) exhibit distinct listening behaviours. Respondents with higher anxiety, depression, insomnia, and OCD scores tend to engage in prolonged music listening, potentially as a coping mechanism. Conversely, individuals with lower mental health scores show different music consumption trends, suggesting varied emotional responses to auditory stimuli. Specific genre preferences, such as rock, jazz, and video game music, were observed to correlate differently with mental health conditions. While these results highlight meaningful correlations, causal relationships cannot be inferred due to the study’s cross-sectional nature. Additionally, potential confounders, such as socioeconomic status, medication use, and comorbid conditions, may influence both music habits and mental health. Future research should employ experimental designs to explore the therapeutic applications of music and clarify whether music consumption actively influences psychological well-being or merely reflects existing mental health states. This study contributes to the growing field of music psychology and underscores the importance of considering individualized music preferences in mental health strategies.