The Impact of Classical vs Self-Selected Music on Stress and Emotional States

Mateo Duque

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: College of Liberal Arts

Major: BA.PSYCHOLOGY

Faculty Research Mentor: Franklin Turner

Abstract:

College students frequently experience stress from academic and social demands that can negatively affect emotional well-being and physiological functioning. Identifying accessible and effective coping strategies is essential for supporting student mental health. Music has been widely recognized as a tool for stress regulation, but limited research has directly compared the effects of different genres on both psychological and physiological stress responses following a stressor. The purpose of this study is to examine how classical music, jazz music, and self-selected music influence stress recovery compared to silence in college students.
This study uses a randomized, between-subjects experimental design with four conditions: classical music, jazz music, self-selected music, and silence. Approximately 60 undergraduate students aged 18 or older from Kean University’s participant pool complete a brief stress-inducing task involving serial subtraction (Serial 7s or Serial 13s). Psychological and physiological stress measures are collected before and after a 7–10 minute listening or silence period. Psychological outcomes include self-reported stress, anxiety, depression, affect, and happiness, while physiological measures include heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure.
The primary objective is to compare the effectiveness of different music conditions in reducing stress following cognitive load. It is expected that all music conditions will reduce stress markers compared to silence, with self-selected music producing the greatest reduction due to personal connection and familiarity. Findings may inform evidence-based stress management interventions and support music as a cost-efficient, non-invasive strategy to promote well-being in college populations.

Keywords: Stress Reduction, Music Listening, College Students, Serial Subtraction, Emotional Well-Being