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Music Taste Groups and Problem Behavior

NCJ Number
218154
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: April 2007 Pages: 313-324
Author(s)
Juul Mulder; Tom ter Bogt; Quinten Raaijmakers; Wilma Vollebergh
Date Published
April 2007
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examined the link between internalizing and externalizing emotional and behavioral problems and music tastes ("middle-of-the road," "urban," "exclusive rock," "rock-pop," "elitists," and "omnivores") among a high school-based sample of 4,159 adolescents representative of Dutch youth ages 12 to 16.
Abstract
Multivariate analyses found that music preference was a relevant factor in explaining variance in psychosocial functioning, even when controlling for known predictors, such as gender, age, family affluence, school level, school achievement, and social support from parents and friends. The youth that preferred mainstream, happy-go-lucky chart music ("middle-of-the-road") showed relatively few internalizing (emotional/mental) problems. On the other hand, those in the "exclusive rock" and "omnivore" (enthusiasm for all styles of music) reported experiencing emotional/mental problems and deliberate self-harm more often than those who preferred other music categories. "Elitists" (preference for classical and jazz) scored relatively high on withdrawal tendencies. Youth in the ommivores, exclusive rock, rock-pop, and urban (hip-hop) groups reported more externalizing problem behaviors. The youth reported on their personal and social characteristics, music preferences, and social-psychological functioning through the Youth Self Report. 4 tables and 51 references