The role of music in adolescent development: much more than the same old song

Abstract

There is an increasingly robust literature of recent research findings that support the developmental importance of music in adolescence. However, this intriguing literature is not familiar to many developmental psychologists, possibly due to a lack of communication among researchers and because of publication trends in developmental journals. This review aims at informing on current knowledge of how music listening can play a role in the psychosocial development of adolescents. To this end, three arguments are discussed in light of recent empirical research: music influences important aspects of adolescent development; music can represent a protective and a risk factor; and music can serve as an adjunct component in prevention and intervention. Therefore, it is proposed how music is a developmental resource in adolescence. It is argued that research on the developmental role of music can create a window to the everyday psychological, social, and cultural needs of contemporary adolescents.