Written by: Aishwarya Samptur
Edited by: Noordeep Kaur
Music is often one of the quickest ways to make connections with the people around you. “Who’s your favorite artist? What kind of music do you listen to?” are the questions people typically ask to learn more about potential new friends. The music you listen to reflects on who you are as an individual, showcasing a piece of your personality and allowing you to make genuine friendships where you feel connected on a personal level. Along the same vein, the songs you listen to, from the melody to the lyrics to the tempo, are often reflective of your emotions and mental well-being.
Adolescents use music as “a means of defining their own identities” (O’Neill, Hargreaves, & North, 2010). Phases of musical artists and genres are often representative of a growing and evolving understanding of one’s identity. The songs one listens to also often provide an insight into the current emotions they are experiencing. Pop songs are associated with more positive emotions such as happiness and excitement, while slower, sadder songs are often reflective of more negative emotions such as sadness and loneliness. Similar to the correlation between types of emotions and music genres, there is also a clear connection between one’s mental well-being and the type of music they prefer.
Adolescents who prefer genres such as heavy metal, rock, and hard rock are often seen associated with depressive symptoms such as antisocial behavior and self-harm. There is a recurring pattern through the studies done on this topic that often reinforces the conclusion that heavy metal music and rock music are the leading music genres that directly seem to correlate with mental health issues such as depression. Between these three genres, heavy metal is most highly associated with these symptoms, often correlated with an increase in aggressiveness, indifference, and pessimism (Özalp et. al, 2012). In a study done by Rentfrow and Gosling, there is a clear correlation between feelings of “intensity and rebelliousness” and music genres such as heavy metal and rock (Ferwerda, Tkalcic, & Schedl, 2017).
As mentioned previously, heavy metal music tends to be loud, aggressive, and intense. These qualities lead to an affected physiological response in listeners, boosting a deeper intensity regarding negative emotions. Heavy metal music affects the autonomic nervous system through changes in respiration rates and heart rhythm, along with the potential of increased cortisol levels depending on the individual (Cheng & Tsai, 2016). An increase of cortisol, the stress hormone, can contribute to mental health issues. High levels of cortisol can act as a neurotoxin, which weakens brain structures and can cause neuroinflammation. This in turn leads to higher risk of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, etc. (Rebecchini, 2021).
However, music has also been widely proven to increase a state of relaxedness. When listening to upbeat or calm music, oxytocin levels have been proven to increase while cortisol levels significantly decrease. In addition to an increase in oxytocin levels, music can positively affect one’s metabolism. Softer, more relaxed music allows for “stronger parasympathetic activity” (Cheng & Tsai, 2016), which in turn decreases our heart and breathing rates, allowing for a state of relaxation to overcome our bodies and maintain a healthy mental presence.
In conclusion, certain music preferences among adolescents are often a sign of potential underlying mental health issues, specifically depression. Although there is no direct causation between music genre preference and depression, it is important to keep in mind the effect music has on your emotional state and consequently, your mental well-being in the long run. Music allows you to directly connect with your emotions and hold influence over your emotions. Not only is it important to remember the power it can have over your overall emotional state, but also to keep in mind what your music preferences can reflect regarding your mental health.
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