Music Listening Motivation is Associated with Global Happiness in Canadian Late Adolescents

This article is about the evidence and the outcome that listening to music has on late adolescents. For years evidence has shown that listening to music can provoke and emotional reaction in people. This study looks a little bit more in depth on the happiness side of the emotions. The theory being tested is can music listening be linked with more global happiness. A subjective well-being (SWB) is what defines global happiness and people’s cognitive and affective quality of life. SWB is a life outcome which comes from many factors like economic wellness, personality, and psychosocial prosperity. Could youth listening to music bring a positive influence to their global happiness? Music is one of the most pleasurable things in many people’s lives. Music also influences motivation and is an artistic outlet from adolescents. In the developmental period, music listening engages adolescents be increasing autonomy in their everyday lives (Steinberg). In adolescents’ autonomy development, music plays and important function, which could result in their global happiness. Some of the positive role of music can depend on the level of self-determination that drives music-listening behaviors, with higher self-determined motivation being more likely to promote optimal development and well-being (Ryan).

Autonomy is as developmental milestone achieved during adolescence. Autonomy development is the formation of identity, decision making, desire for independence, and pursuit of goals (Collins). Autonomy increases during adolescence and even more into late adolescence. Adolescents’ motivational autonomy is self-determined motivation. Autonomy has three forms; emotional, behavioral, and cognitive. The emotional side is when the adolescent doesn’t f...

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...no data about life satisfaction. In late adulthood it has been shown to affect mood but not life satisfaction. This made researchers wonder is it different with adolescents. Could adolescents listening to music improve their life satisfaction?

Adolescent psychology informs that structured leisure activities are pivotal for positive youth development (Mahoney), whereas unstructured leisure activities that involve passively indulging in media consumption (TV) can hinder adolescents’ well-being (Trainor). Music listening is among the most important and meaningful unstructured leisure activities for adolescent.

Works Cited

Morinville, Amélie, Dave Miranda, and Patrick Gaudreau. "Music Listening Motivation Is Associated With Global Happiness In Canadian Late Adolescents." Psychology Of Aesthetics, Creativity, And The Arts 7.4 (2013): PsycARTICLES. Web. 2 Apr. 2014.