Enhancing wellbeing: An emerging model of the adaptive functions of music listening

Abstract

Affect regulation is generally considered the most important function of music listening (FML). Yet, models of wellbeing also highlight engagement, relationships, meaning, achievement, and other adaptive functions that music may facilitate. However, there is currently no consensus as to how these adaptive FML co-function within an enhancement system that supports wellbeing. The current study used the collective intelligence methodology, Interactive Management (IM) to address this gap in the literature. Four IM sessions were conducted, two with younger adults (N = 24) and two with older adults (N = 19). Participants responded to the stimulus question "why do you listen to music?" Each participant then voted for five FML they believed were most significant for enhancing wellbeing. The eight highest ranked functions were entered into Interpretive Structural Modelling software, and relations between pairs of FML were discussed. Four structural models were generated demonstrating potential interdependencies in FML in the context of wellbeing enhancement. Age differences emerged in the FML considered adaptive: younger adults emphasized affect regulation and social connection, whereas older adults emphasized more eudaimonic functions of music (e.g., Transcendence and personal growth). The influence of FML are discussed in reference to key wellbeing and developmental theories.Research has highlighted the importance of music listening for older adults (Laukka, 2007) and younger adults (Miranda & Gaudreau, 2010;Saarikallio, 2011) in promoting quality of life and managing psychological distress. A review of the literature reveals a wide range of affective, cognitive and social functions of music listening (FML). Affective functions dominate in the literature published to date, with listening to music for mood regulation being reported as the most important function of music (Juslin & Sloboda, 2010).The majority of research in the area focuses on younger adults, with few studies examining the broader relationship between music and wellbeing across the lifespan. Listeners also report listening to music to increase focus and attention and for the cognitive stimulation associated with the analysis of complex compositions (Chamorro-Premuzic & Furnham, 2007;Chin & Rickard, 2012). The social functions of music include establishing social identity (North, Hargreaves, & O'Neill, 2000), social atmosphere (Laukka, 2007) and facilitating social bonding (Huron, 2001). All of these functions are potentially important for understanding the relationship between music listening and wellbeing across the lifespan, however further empirical work and efforts at theory building are needed. Wellbeing and music listeningAccording to traditional perspectives, the components of subjective wellbeing (SWB) are a greater ratio of positive to negative emotions, and a sense of satisfaction with life (Diener, Eunkook, Lucas, & Smith, 1999). However, eudaimonic perspectives provide a broader definition of wellbeing. For example, the Authentic Ha...

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