Depression among teens may be partly caused by listening to music, a recent study suggests.
In a study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, adolescents who listen to a considerable amount of music were shown to be at higher risk of developing major depressive disorder. Those who prefer to read, on the other hand, have a much lower risk.
The researchers surveyed 106 adolescents, of whom 46 were suffering from major depressive disorder. In a method dubbed “real life,” they called the subjects regularly over a five-weekend period to ask what types of media they were tuning in to, whether TV, music, books, or the Internet. Some subjects were called as much as 60 times.
Teenagers who listened to the most music were 8.3 times more prone to depression than those who consumed it the least, and 10 times more at risk than those who read books more than any other media.
It’s not clear whether the music itself contributes to the depression, or if depression makes youngsters seek refuge in music. Lead researcher Dr. Brian Primack says that parents shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that music is bad, as kids could simply be finding comfort in it. Music often carries emotional themes that give depressed teens a form of catharsis, he says. Indeed, the next step of the study will be to look into these themes and see if specific types of music have an effect on depression levels.
It could also be that depressed …
