The functions of music for affect regulation

TLDR

Musical experiences are widely reported to influence emotions, yet how music regulates affect beyond its expressive properties remains unclear. This study aims to examine how music functions to regulate affect, which affective states it targets, and whether it serves as an effective regulation device. Researchers conducted a one‑week diary study with interviews followed by a three‑week diary study to capture participants’ music‑listening experiences. Music facilitates affect regulation through distraction, introspection, and active coping, promotes happiness and relaxation, and overall proves to be a successful regulation device with multiple underlying mechanisms.

Abstract

Musical experiences are often reported to influence emotions ( Juslin & Västfjäll, 2008 ; Sloboda, O’Neill, & Ivaldi, 2001 ): people consciously and unconsciously use music to change, create, maintain or enhance their emotions and moods (affect) on a daily basis for their personal benefit ( DeNora, 1999 ; Schramm, 2005 ). This is known as affect regulation. However, existing research has not yet answered questions of how music regulates affect, especially beyond the expressive properties of music ( Meyer, 1956 ). The aims of the studies presented here were to investigate (a) how music functions to regulate affect, (b) which affects it regulates, and (c) whether music listening can be considered a successful affect regulation device. A one-week diary study with interviews and a three-week diary study were conducted. The main findings were: (1) music helps through broader affect regulation strategies like distraction, introspection, and active coping; music can for example distract someone from the affect or situation, or help to think about the affect or situation in a rational way; (2) music plays a major role in creating happiness and relaxation; (3) music overall is a successful regulation device with a range of underlying mechanisms helping different strategies. The current paper is a valuable addition to the existing literature and provides several new insights into the function of music for affect regulation in everyday life. The insight gained into which strategies and underlying mechanisms are involved when music is used for affect regulation might be used for the benefit of people’s emotional wellbeing.