The use of music often has a crucial role in the everyday life of patients with mental disorders

Abstract

Background: Until now little has been known about the relationship between emotion modulation through music listening habits and personality dimensions, especially in patients with mental disorders. Objective: To explore relations between the use of music in everyday life and personality dimensions in patients with mental disorders. Methods: A population of patients suffering from mental disorders (n=190) was examined using one inventory on emotion modulation by music (IAAM) and another assessing personality dimensions (SKI). Results: Patients with high ego-strength used music less for relaxation, cognitive problem solving or for reduction of negative activity, similarly patients with high orderliness used it less for cognitive problem solving or for reduction of negative activity, but patients with high confidence used music more for fun stimulation. Patients who reported that they listened to music which improved their symptoms of mental illness showed more ego-strength and orderliness than patients who listened to music that worsened their emotional condition. Conclusions: The study suggests that the personality variables confidence, ego-strength and orderliness are variables for the use of music in a helpful way for emotion modulation.