Welcome, dear brave parents in the trenches of raising young adults! Recently, I discovered a secret weapon for your parenting arsenal. Indeed, its Music! It is very well known that music has a very strong influence on the listener’s mood and emotions. Let’s explore how music affects emotions and mood swings, especially of young adults.

Why Do We Like Music?

We like music because it makes us feel good. Why does it make us feel good? A study suggested that the “feel good” feeling is due to a gush of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. It is similar to what is experienced while eating delicious food or sex.

Dopamine is the brain’s way of saying, “Hey, that was awesome! Let’s feel good.” So, when your moody teen is down in the dumps, a dose of their favorite tunes might just be the antidote. Moreover, the lyrics are like a roadmap. When your teenager can’t put their feelings into words, a song can do the heavy lifting for them. It’s like having a musical therapist on standby!

How Music Affects Emotions Directly?

 Al Īmām al Aḥmad al Mastūr, a Fatimid sovereign, in his epistles known as the Purity of Brethren, 1000 years ago discussed about the how music affects emotion but also one’s soul! He stated that music has different influences on minds of the listeners. One of the pieces of evidence is that people use it sometimes at joy and happiness at weddings. Other times music is used to express grief at funerals, or in houses of worship. Similarly, it is used by men, women, boys, sheikhs, scholars, illiterate people, craftsmen, merchants, and all classes of people.”

Most teenagers use music as a form of therapy when dealing with their emotions, from heartbreak and disappointment to frustration at work and anger management issues. Music provides comfort during times of distress or turmoil.

What are the Different Types of Music?

1) Meditation Music

There is various meditation music depending on who’s listening. While some might enjoy new age music or nature sounds as an aid for breathing regulation and pulse rate regulation, others might enjoy classical melodies or traditional and ancient musical styles that convey spirituality and wisdom more powerfully.

Music affects emotions as it has profound repercussions and helps to express emotions in a healthy manner. People experiencing heartache may find comfort in classical tunes.  Those seeking motivation might benefit from listening to upbeat songs. When it comes to meditation, many people opt for instrumental music because it helps them stay present and relax their minds.

2)Sad Music

Studies suggest that when teens listen to music that makes them sad, their emotional responses often focus on the song itself, rather than on its artist or band. According to researchers, music has the ability to trigger specific emotional responses like empathy, fantasy-proneness and profound thinking in individuals listening.

These findings indicate that our feelings towards music may depend on our association of memories with it. For instance, when listening to sad songs associated with past loves or mourning family members, teens may experience emotions such as nostalgia or negative associations with that piece of music.

Additionally, music affects emotions because it can seem melancholic due to its slow tempo and associated low levels of arousal. For example, an average pop song typically has an approximate 104 beats per minute tempo, whereas heavy metal songs often evoke fear or aggression when played fast enough.

3)Music for healing

Music has long been recognized as a universal language, great healer, and even an expression of the divine. It can bridge cultural divides while soothing away our most painful emotions. Research indicates that music can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, synchronize brain activity, enhance learning and memory skills as well as aid recovery after stroke or brain injuries. If you or your child is suffering from insomnia, try listening to soothing music before bedtime.

Music Affects Emotions – The Last Note🎵 

Music can be of great advantage to you as parents, but also there are drawbacks as well. It is a duty of parents to keep a watch on their children and what they are listening. Even a good tune could have inappropriate lyrics. Indeed, music affects emotions and children are quick to absorb negativity more than positivity. Young adults sometimes behave a certain stubborn way and music could be the root cause. Remember, music affects emotion and your child’s emotions are a sea of waves.

Right music heals the soul and the wrong one can destroy it. It can turn those chaotic mood swings into harmonious melodies or outrageous outbursts.  Aristotle wisely said,

“Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul.”

So, parents, play on and parent with a beat! 🎵👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🎶