If music moves us, can it make us move on? A qualitative study on musicians and the role of music in relation to emotion regulation and coping

Sammanfattning: In the field of music psychology, many studies have suggested that music can influence emotions. This qualitative study aimed to explore the emotional and cognitive effects and usage of music by musicians, especially pertaining to coping and regulating emotions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten musicians. The data were analysed using thematic analysis under a critical realist paradigm, resulting in six themes: (1) Music as channel for emotions, (2) Music and stress/anxiety, (3) Music as a separate world, (4) Music as a calling, (5) Music as communication, (6) The power of music. Results suggested that music is used by musicians as a tool to express and regulate emotions similar to previously defined strategies such as ‘situation modification’, ‘attentional deployment’, ‘cognitive shift’ or ‘response modulation’. In terms of coping, music seemed to sometimes cause stress, but also decrease distress through both emotion-focused and problem-focused coping. Other effects include a better subjective understanding of emotions and increased fellowship. Further research could compare musicians with non-musicians and should delve into the psychological mechanisms behind these effects, as well as study how music communicates emotions and concepts and affects attitudes.