Monday, October 24, 2011

Heavy Metal Music and Depression in Teens: A Fresh Look


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This is some very interesting new research coming out of Australia! Basically, the researcher is saying that a fixation by a teenager on one particular heavy metal song or album can be an indicator of depression. This is especially true if the teen says that the music does not make them feel good about themselves. 


 I am not surprised by this study since we know that people often prefer music that matches their current mood. As music therapists we know that this can be a very powerful tool by different genres and styles of music to gently influence and guide clients into a desired mood or mental state. This research by Dr. McFerran is very valuable since it tries to provide a guide for using music as a screening device for depression. This will be very valuable to parents, especially the ones who are oblivious to what their teens are listening to! Music that you listen to says a lot about who you are and how you are feeling. 


...Maybe all of us should do a little self-audit of our iPods!

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