Introduction and Methods

Introduction

The effects that media can have on the emotions of its population is a heavily debated subject in today’s world. From violent video games to sexualized advertisements, the question of the effects this mass communication can come in many forms. People always seem to want to know the answer to the same question: how is this thing affecting me? In reality, nothing can be said for sure. After all, what is true for one individual may not be true for another. Different people bring different attitudes and personalities when approaching media, so while its effects may not be able to be classified individually, broad arguments can be made to understand the population. According to the mood management theory, people use different forms of media to affect their mood (Zillmann, 1988). For example, someone may watch a happy movie when they feel sad to elevate their mood, or watch an action film before going out for the night to put them in the right mindset for their evening.

With the extensive research being conducted around this theory, it is clear to see the possibility of all sorts of media affecting mental health of consumers. More interestingly, however, is the idea that music, a form of art old enough to predate traditional therapeutic practices, could actually be the first kind of therapy. There is a whole field being developed around this idea of music having an effect on people with mental disorders and attempting to help them through the power of song. Many researchers are trying to give reasons as to why this form of therapy could work, stating that it works as a form of self-expression that the person would be unable to release somewhere else (Montánchez, 2016). Others believe that listening to music could help relieve symptoms of negativity in that person’s life (Academy of Finland, 2015). It is also thought that music could help regulate the emotions of someone’s life in order to help them overcome mental health issues in a routine way (Novotney, 2013). While all of these things have the potential to be true, using them together seem to describe the process of using music as therapy in a way to help the person suffering from mental health issues.

However, because music is still regarded as an implausible career path and mental health is still stigmatized, it is important for society to talk about these issues now more than ever. Mental health is a broad subject and needs time in order for people to perceive its effects. In order to change one’s own mindset, people often need to question their own perceptions of the world around them. Therefore, the first step in battling this change is to assess the deeply rooted perceptions that people already hold about mental health issues and the possibility of music alleviating that condition.

Methods

Participants

The participants of this survey were undergraduate college students 18-23. Most of them attended the University of Iowa, though some students at other colleges participated as well.

Procedures

The participants responded to a 4-6 question online survey with guided questions based on their responses. The questions included a rate on a scale from 1 to 10 and yes/no questions. In addition to the other questions on the survey, participants who stated that they had a history of mental health issues were also asked if their condition had been treated clinically and if listening to music had been recommended to them by a doctor or other medical professional. The survey was anonymous to protect the confidentiality of the participants.

Data Analysis

The responses from the participants were collected and compiled into several pie charts and bar graphs to help visually determine the percentages of specific responses to each question.