Influence of Music Preference on Social Connectivity, Emotion Regulation and Happiness among Adults

Abstract

Music is a form of art that has been used for thousands of years as a therapeutic tool. In recent years, there has been a growing body of research examining the effects of music on emotion regulation and feelings caused by music. The present review endeavours to (1) enumerate the current body of scientific research about the brain processes that underlie emotion regulation, and (2) scrutinize the possible therapeutic advantages of music in the management of emotion deregulation. This review is aimed at highlighting the current literature on how brain processes related to music preferences influence three key aspects of adult life: social connectedness, emotion regulation (i.e., happiness), and subjective well-being.