Stephanie G. Mathis When the distinction between adult and youth music was made, the music preferences of young people became a subject of concern and interest for adults. The difference between the youth and adult market was a strategy devised by music and movie magnates in order to encourage newly wealthy baby boomers to spend their hard-earned money in developed countries.
Since then, teenyboppers are the primary consumers of pop and the industry’s priority. It is not accidental that parents feel left out of youth music.
It is not only beneficial to the music industry but also gives young people a chance for individuation. This healthy psychological process involves transferring loyalty between parents and peers, which is planned for adolescents.
Fernando butcher
Parents may worry about the mental health of their children and believe that their music tastes reflect or reinforce their unhappiness.
The impact of music on mental health in teenagers is a complex area that is often not well understood.
The results of our survey and in-depth interviews with young people on their relationship to music suggest that the topic requires careful negotiation.
Parents who are caring often make two mistakes.
The first is that there’s a belief that music affects young people. My career as a Music Therapist would be much more lucrative if music were that powerful. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it to bring world peace and equality, just to start.
David Urbanke
Music is not an unpredictable drug that will produce predictable results. It is more of a condition that promotes certain potentials. However, these potentials will not be realized unless the young person gives their permission – whether consciously or unconsciously.
We can also use music to relax ourselves, but we must decide to do this.
There is also the belief that music has different effects. Upbeat music with positive lyrics and music in a major key should make you happy. Slow music with sad lyrics and music in a minor key should make you depressed.
The opposite is also true. Personal associations can override any inherent direction that the music suggests. Music that is uplifting to one person could be depressing or annoying to another. So it goes.
What can you do if your teenager listens to music that makes you feel uncomfortable?
It’s an excellent opportunity to bond and have a dialogue. Although teenagers use music to distance themselves from their parents, they can be very passionate about it and will not hesitate to express their opinions if the conditions are right.
The 13-question tool has been developed and tested for use in clinical practice. However, these questions can also be reduced to a smaller amount of questions to help parents.
Set aside your assumptions and start the conversation by:
What kind of music do you listen to?
If all goes well, you should have a nice chat. If your child has mental health issues, they may need some help identifying bad habits.
Try these questions to see if you are using music to intensify or ruminate on negative feelings.
When you listen to music, do you ever get stuck with bad memories?
It is a classic strategy of ruminating, which most people use to work through difficult situations. This is a great example.
Music can help people stay stuck in repetitive thoughts when they are trying to break negative thinking patterns.
You may feel worse when you try to make yourself feel better by listening to music.
Music has helped many young people feel better. The young people that I’ve spoken to have a harder time recognizing when music isn’t working. They will continue to listen to the same songs which used to make them happy.
It can be not easy to raise their awareness of this. You should use a few gentle probes in order for you to find out if it is happening.
We were asked to answer, “Really? You’ve never felt worse after listening music?” After a few weeks, we heard, “Well, there was that one time …”, which usually turns into several times.
3) Have you ever hid in music because no one understands it?
It’s a lovely idea that music can be a friend. Music has certainly helped many people to survive times of loneliness when no one in their group of friends seemed to understand them. Over-identification with distant idols is problematic when it comes to mental health issues.
It’s easy for young people to hide behind music when they need real-time communication. Songs never respond, are predictable, and will always tell you what you want.
justine-Reyes
Few people are as reliable, and that is a good thing because good friends give us more dynamic feedback, which changes with our circumstances. Music can be a great way to connect with people outside your immediate area. However, it can also reinforce a feeling of loneliness.
Do you ever let music influence you to do something you shouldn’t?
This question is a favorite among teenagers, and they should be. Music can’t take us anywhere, as I said above: we must choose where to go. It was difficult to ask about the times when young people use music to intensify an aggressive or angry mood. This question seemed most appropriate.
It is not surprising that young people who have difficulty controlling negative emotions can be angry when asked such a simple question. This question should be carefully considered. However, music can be used to motivate us for a night out or a game or to do our housework or homework.
Music is a positive, sustaining force for both young and old. Music offers emotional expression and connection in a way that is unmatched. It’s also important to keep in mind that even negative emotions can be processed positively.
If someone you care about is suffering from mental health issues that include ruminating or intensifying behaviors, it may be worth talking to them about music. Make sure it’s used in a way that helps.
It is not uncommon for people to change their ways of doing things if they become aware of the way music works.
