Keywords

Emotional Modulation; Self Regulation; Music Psychology; Passive Listening; Musical Engagement; Psychology

Abstract

This study explored how different forms of musical engagement, actively playing versus

passively listening, impact emotional regulation following exposure to a stressor. The goal was

to better understand whether active participation in music offers greater emotional benefits

compared to simply listening, as previous research often highlights music’s role in emotional

modulation but overlooks the influence of performance-based engagement. A total of 28

participants either played music or listened to music and then completed both pre- and post-

stressor measures assessing mood, mental task load, and heart rate. Contrary to the original

hypothesis, findings revealed that participants from the listening group experienced a larger drop

in pre- to post-condition scores, indicating a stronger effect on emotional modulation. Potential

factors include cognitive load, breathing patterns, and musical expertise. This study is unique in

that it addresses a common gap in the literature by including a broad range of instruments,

beyond string, and including participants of all expertise levels. This study also challenges the

assumption that active musical participation is more beneficial for emotional regulation. Future

research should continue to examine how factors such as instrument type, musical expertise, and

song choice influence emotional modulation performance.

Thesis Completion Year

2025

Thesis Completion Semester

Fall

Thesis Chair

Sims, Valerie

College

College of Sciences

Department

Psychology

Thesis Discipline

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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Rights Statement

In Copyright