The effects of heavy metal music on affects shifts of adolescents in an inpatient psychiatric setting

35 adolescents (aged 12–18 yrs) from a psychiatric facility participated in a study to determine the effects of listening to heavy metal vs rock music on affect shifts and to determine the relationship between music preference and shifts in affect. Short-term fluctuations in mood were measured before and after music listening, and music preference was assessed with a rating sheet completed during testing. Overall, no significant pre–post differences were found in the affect shifts of the Ss; however, when grouped according to music preference, those Ss preferring heavy metal music after listening to heavy metal music were found to have significant increases in positive affect. Ss' primary diagnoses had little bearing on shifts in affect after music listening.