McKenzie, Sabrina, Glasser, Solange, Osborne, Margaret, and Krause, Amanda (2023) A catalyst for self-compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of music listening. In: International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition (ICMPC). From: 17th International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition (ICMPC), 24-28 August 2023, Tokyo, Japan.

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Abstract

Introduction: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have experienced increased mental health concerns (Williams et al., 2020). As a response to these challenging circumstances, young adults have increasingly turned to music as a coping mechanism (Wulf et al., 2022). Indeed, music listening can have a profound impact on human emotions (Juslin & Laukka, 2004). However, existing literature on music listening has limited focus on self-compassion, which involves acknowledging, alleviating, and preventing personal suffering (Gilbert, 2010). Given the correlation between mental health and self-compassion (Inwood & Ferrari, 2018), this study aimed to explore the role everyday music listening plays in cultivating self-compassion.

Methods: A total of 296 Australian university students aged 17-33 years (M = 19.32, SD = 2.37) completed a mixed-methods questionnaire on self-compassion and music listening. Participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF) (Raes et al., 2010), along with an author adapted version of the SCS-SF to explore music listening's role in fostering self-compassion. Qualitative data were collected through open-ended questions, exploring experiences of music listening and its impact on self-compassion during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Results indicate that 82% of participants experienced self-compassion while listening to music during the pandemic, with 87% reporting an increase in this listening outcome since the pandemic began. Thematic analysis suggests that music listening fosters self-compassion across various areas, including emotion regulation, cognition, connection, and outlet.

Discussion: This study provides new insight into how self-compassion and music listening are connected, particularly in challenging circumstances like the pandemic. Future research could consider alternative frameworks to gain a more comprehensive understanding of self-compassion.

Conclusion: As this research explores the relationship between music and self-compassion, it allows us to gain a deeper understanding of people's musical lives during a historical moment of challenge and collective trauma. These findings have implications when considering the possible process loop of how music listening cultivates self-compassion in turn improving mental health.

Item ID:	79699
Item Type:	Conference Item (Poster)
Keywords:	social and applied psychology of music, psychology of music, music psychology, music listening, everyday listening, well-being, self-compassion
Related URLs:	https://jsmpc.org/ICMPC17/
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2023 00:00
FoR Codes:	52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5205 Social and personality psychology > 520505 Social psychology @ 60% 36 CREATIVE ARTS AND WRITING > 3603 Music > 360399 Music not elsewhere classified @ 40%
SEO Codes:	28 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 2801 Expanding knowledge > 280121 Expanding knowledge in psychology @ 60% 13 CULTURE AND SOCIETY > 1301 Arts > 130102 Music @ 40%
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