Abstract
In a cross-sectional study, associations of global affect with two ways of listening to music – attentive-analytical listening (AL) and emotional listening (EL) – were examined. Based on a two-dimensional model of general affect, we focused on the degrees to which AL and EL are differentially correlated with positive and negative affect. In addition to bivariate relationships, the interactions between different states of general affect were tested. In Study 1, a sample of 1,291 individuals responded to questionnaires on listening to music, positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA). We used the PANAS, which measures PA and NA as high arousal dimensions. AL was positively correlated with PA, EL with NA. Moderation analyses showed stronger associations between PA and AL when NA was low. Study 2 (N = 499 participants) differentiated between three facets of affect and focused, in addition to PA and NA, on the role of relaxation. Similar to the findings of Study 1, AL was correlated with PA, EL with NA and PA. Moderation analyses indicated that the degree to which PA was associated with an individual´s tendency to listen to music attentively depended on their degree of relaxation. In addition, the correlation between PA and EL was stronger for individuals who were more relaxed; for individuals who were less relaxed, the correlation between NA and EL was stronger. In sum, the results demonstrate not only simple bivariate correlations, but also that the expected associations vary, depending on the different affective states. We argue that the results reflect a dual function of listening to music, which includes emotional regulation and information processing.
Highlights
Given the results found for relaxation, the positive affect system should be enhanced when individuals experience a high degree of relaxation: analytical listening (AL) and emotional listening (EL) should be pronounced when individuals have experienced a high degree of PA and relaxation
Because rather small effect sizes could be expected on the basis of previous research, we conducted partial correlations (Cohen et al, 2003) to test whether the bivariate associations would remain stable under controlled conditions
Both phenomena have a long tradition in musical research and remain fascinating; despite numerous studies, both are still insufficiently understood in their basis
Summary
We conducted two cross-sectional studies: Study 1 examined these relationships when positive and negative affect is characterized by high arousal. Study 2 considers the relaxation component of positive affect in addition to PA and NA. Both studies concentrate on how individuals felt in general (Study 1) or felt in general during the two previous weeks (Study 2), and the respective correlations with AL and EL. We test whether EL is associated with PA (Hypothesis 3) In previous research, this correlation was not consistent. Moderation hypothesis – Study 1: If one assumes that NA is a condition associated with stress and unwanted cognitions, it seems plausible that the PA-AL relationship would be moderated by NA (Hypothesis 4).
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