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Have you ever heard the saying that music reveals who you are? Like peeking into your mind? Does your favorite music genre make you happier or more sad? You might think that people who enjoy energetic music might be bubbly and happy, while people who listen to atmospheric, indie tracks might be more cynical and sad.
But it turns out that the reality is much more nuanced, and there are many other factors involved. A study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences found that although your playlist says something about your mood, it may not reflect the whole picture.
Also read: Feeling stressed? 5 types of calming music you need to have on your playlist
What did the study find?
Researchers examined data from 8,879 adult twins in Sweden. Participants were asked about their favorite musical genre. The researchers also wanted to evaluate whether liking a certain musical genre actually improves or worsens well-being, or whether it is linked to other broader factors such as genetics or family background. Twins were used in the survey because they share almost identical genetic information and grow up in the same family environment.
Participants who liked genres like pop, gospel or Swedish dance music scored slightly higher in well-being. Those who liked indie music received slightly lower scores. But when they saw identical twins, there was no difference in their happiness. This means that music in itself does not directly affect happiness or sadness.
What does this imply?
This means that your music taste does not make you happy or sad. You can enjoy any genre from pop and metal to indie without worrying about whether it will affect your overall well-being. Right now, music can affect your emotions.
For example, an upbeat song may lift your spirits as you tap your feet, while indie music may create a more reflective or nostalgic mood. But in the end, these effects are only temporary, depending on how much energy you take from the tunes. They don’t have much impact on other aspects of your happiness and emotional well-being.
In short, you can enjoy any music genre without fear that it will affect your emotional well-being. You can stop throwing shade at your friend who enjoys heavy metal and let everyone groove to their favorite tunes.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.
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