Individuals emotionally regulate daily through a variety of means, some healthy and some not. It is important to find accessible means of managing emotions which promote a healthier lifestyle. As an art form, music is widely available and heavily associated with emotions, as different works evoke particular feelings. Anecdotally, individuals use music to de-stress or relax, but how effective is music for emotion regulation, and does usage of music lead to more positive outcomes? Results from 15 studies indicate individual variance, but commonalities include age, disposition, and familiarity as predictive factors. Furthermore, strategy is an important predictor of well-being, with reappraisal proving more effective than suppression, especially when paired with music (Chin & Rickard, 2013). Current gaps include what emotions individuals choose to regulate with music, and when it is most effective. This review will cover the ways music can be used to emotionally regulate and how effective it can be.
