On my biweekly trek to North Lawn Hall, I notice students I pass wearing headphones, subconsciously bobbing their heads to the beat of their song of choice. It is undeniable that music is prominent in young adults’ lives, and with countless streaming services, listening to music daily is a common occurrence. But as music streaming platforms continue to grow in popularity, it begs the question: Does music have the capacity to alter mindsets? Can a playlist featuring sorrowful soliloquies worsen a listener’s mood?
In a video from PBS News, Indre Viskontas, neurologist and author of “How Music Can Make You Better,” explained, “Listening to calm music when you are anxious can also lower your heart rate, deepen your breathing, because now all of a sudden your brain is trying to sync up with the music. And if the music has a slower pulse, then that slows down these other autonomic parts of your nervous system.”
The ever-growing scientific evidence surrounding neurological response causes one to take a closer look at certain genres, such as sad or nostalgic music, and how this might subject the listener to a worsened mood.
It is common to scroll on Spotify and see playlists made to fit a user’s mood, and there are a seemingly endless amount of woeful melodies for those feeling emotional. I have had my fair share of one-woman shows to Adele in my car, but I never recognized my mood throughout. How many melancholic ballads can a user stream before they become as miserable as the melody itself?
Sandra Garrido, a Western Sydney University senior research fellow, conducted a study that suggests sad music plays deeper in the listener’s psyche than most think. Over 300 participants who listened to self-selected sad music had spikes in depressed and anxious thoughts. Despite most believing the lethargic, moody tunes would be therapeutic, most ended the study with an overall worsened mood.
As young adults with access to millions of songs, we must be cognizant of how much and what types we consume. If you fall into a sad phase in your life, don’t put sad songs on a loop, as you will inevitably end the listening session feeling 10 times worse. Add a couple of light-hearted beats, dance tunes or even a happy Disney song you loved as a kid. Music is a great tool to connect with your emotions — but listen wisely.
