Browsing by Author "Edwards, Jane"

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    Listening to sad music in adverse situations: Music selection strategies, self-regulatory goals, listening effect, and mood-enhancement.
    (Sage, 2014) Van den Tol, Annemieke, J. M.; Edwards, Jane
    Adults’ (N = 220) reported motivations for listening to sad music after experiencing adverse negative circumstances were examined by exploring how their music selection strategies related to (a) their self-regulatory goals, and (b) reported effects of listening. The effects of music selection strategies, self-regulatory goals, and reported effects on the achievement of mood enhancement were also explored using a retrospective survey design. The findings indicate that music choice is linked to the individual’s identified self-regulatory goals for music listening and to expected effects. Additionally, the results show that if individuals had intended to achieve mood enhancement through music listening, this was often achieved by first experiencing cognitive reappraisal or distraction. The selection of music with perceived high aesthetic value was the only music selection strategy that directly predicted mood enhancement. Where respondents indicated that they chose music with the intention of triggering memories, this was negatively related to the self-regulatory goal of mood enhancement.
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    Sad music as a means for acceptance-based coping
    (Sage, 2016-03-01) Van den Tol, Annemieke, J. M.; Edwards, Jane; Heflick, N. A.
    Self-identified sad music (SISM) is often listened to when experiencing sad life situations. Research indicates that the most common reason people give for listening to SISM is “to be in touch with or express feelings of sadness”. But why might this be the case? We suggest that one reason people choose to listen to sad music when feeling sad is to accept aversive situations. We tested if SISM is associated with acceptance coping and consolation. We hypothesized that SISM relates to acceptance-based coping via the recognition and identification of emotional states, and that people will report more acceptance from SISM than self- identified happy music when seeking consolation. In Study 1, participants recalled how happy or sad the music sounds that they normally listen to for consolation, and if they listen to this music to gain acceptance of negative moods and situations. In Study 2, participants reported their goals when listening to sad music during a recalled time in which they experienced an adverse life situation and whether this lead to acceptance. Study 1: People reported that they were more likely to listen to sad music than happy music when seeking consolation, though they preferred happy music in general. Listening to SISM (but not self-identified happy music) when seeking consolation was associated with acceptance of both a negative situation and the associated negative emotions. Additionally, seeking to deal with emotions was associated with both SISM listening (for consolation) and acceptance. Study 2: Listening to SISM to get in touch with and express affect was the most important self-regulatory strategy (of six examined) through which acceptance was recalled to be achieved. Experiencing adverse situations or seeking consolation, people report that listening to SISM is associated with acceptance coping (through the re-experiencing of affect). Implications for music therapy and theories of emotional coping are discussed.
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    A self-regulatory perspective on choosing ‘sad’ music to enhance mood.
    (2012) Van den Tol, Annemieke, J. M.; Edwards, Jane
    1a) It was expected that for most music selection strategies mood-enhancement would be achieved indirectly by first achieving other functions rather than directly as a result of the music listening. 1b) In line with self-regulation literature it was expected that the functions cognitive and distraction would play an important mediating role in achieving mood-enhancement. 2) It was expected that when the aesthetic value of the music had played an important role in the music selection, then experiencing mood-enhancement could be achieved directly as a result of the music listening and this could not be explained as a result of mediating roles of other functions.