Nikki Rickard
Monash University, Psychology, Faculty Member
Musicianship is traditionally denoted by a history and level of expertise achieved through formal music training. In research investigating cognitive and health benefits of music, it has been usual for a distinction to be made between... more
Musicianship is traditionally denoted by a history and level of expertise achieved through formal music training. In research investigating cognitive and health benefits of music, it has been usual for a distinction to be made between =musicians' and nonmusicians'. In this chapter, we explore a range of other forms of engagement with music, including active listening, and affective, analytical, social and physical styles of engagement. The more controversial evidence that other forms of music engagement may confer similar non-musical cognitive benefits (albeit to a lesser degree) as formal music training is reviewed. The implications of revisiting the definition of musicianship in research on music benefits for health and cognition are presented. This chapter highlights the need for a more continuous and comprehensive measure of music engagement for the investigation of the benefits of music on mental health and well-being. © 2012 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Music is frequently used to support emotional health and well-being, with emotion regulation the most commonly reported mechanism. Music-based emotion regulation has not yet been extensively investigated within the broader emotion... more
Music is frequently used to support emotional health and well-being, with emotion regulation the most commonly reported mechanism. Music-based emotion regulation has not yet been extensively investigated within the broader emotion regulation framework. The effects of music-based emotion regulation on emotional state and well-being outcomes have also rarely been tested in real time. The current study aimed to determine the consequences of emotion regulation strategies used during music listening, in terms of hedonic outcomes, and associations with emotional health and well-being. A sample of 327 participants used the MuPsych application (app), a mobile experience sampling methodology designed for the real-time and ecologically-valid measurement of personal music listening. Results revealed that using music to regulate a recently experienced emotion (response-focused strategies) yielded the greatest hedonic success, but was associated with poorer emotional health and well-being. Music-based emotion regulation differed from non-music emotion regulation findings in several key ways, suggesting that music-based emotion regulation does not occur in accordance with the process model. This supported the notion that personal music listening is utilized as an independent regulatory resource, allowing listeners to reach specific emotional goals. Regulation strategies are selected to reach a desired hedonic outcome, based on initial mood, and influenced by emotional health and well-being.
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Day-old chicks (black Australorp-white Leghorn) trained to avoid an aversive stimulus will usually retain memory for this event indefinitely. The passive avoidance task used involves a period of pretraining where chicks peck freely at two... more
Day-old chicks (black Australorp-white Leghorn) trained to avoid an aversive stimulus will usually retain memory for this event indefinitely. The passive avoidance task used involves a period of pretraining where chicks peck freely at two differently colored glass beads, a single training trial where one of the beads is coated in a chemical aversant eliciting typical disgust reactions from the chicks, and a test trial where both beads are presented dry, and discrimination memory is demonstrated by avoidance of the previously aversive bead with continued pecking of the nonaversive bead. Intracranial administration of a N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist (50 microM 2-amino-5-phosphopentanoate) immediately after or prior to learning, or a non-N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor antagonist (100 microM 6,7-dinitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione) between 10 and 25 min after learning, resulted in amnesia for this task at 80 to 90 min post-training. These data indicate that processes dependent on N-methyl-D-aspartate and non-N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor activation are necessary for memory consolidation of a passive avoidance task in the day-old chick. Since these agents must be administered during the earlier stages of memory formation to cause amnesia, the receptors are probably activated close to the time of learning. The delayed effect of these antagonists, however, suggests that memory is independent of these receptors until quite late in the memory consolidation process.
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ABSTRACT Enhanced cognitive performance after listening to music is believed to be mediated by enjoyment-related arousal, which is consistent with arousal mediation of performance in terms of an inverted U shaped relationship. In... more
ABSTRACT Enhanced cognitive performance after listening to music is believed to be mediated by enjoyment-related arousal, which is consistent with arousal mediation of performance in terms of an inverted U shaped relationship. In non-music research, emotionally salient events elicit an adrenal arousal response, detectable by heart rate and skin conductance changes, that modulates the consolidation of memory. It is possible then that enhanced cognitive performance in response to music is mediated by emotional arousal. However, as physiological changes in music-cognitive performance research have typically not been recorded, this relationship can only be speculated. Music is capable of eliciting physiological changes consistent with emotion, as such, this study was designed to explicitly test whether arousing music could enhance memory. In a repeated measures design, 15 males and 22 females (18-49 years) listened to two self-selected enjoyed music tracks and two tracks to which they were indifferent. Physiological changes were measured continuously. A radio science show excerpt was used as a no-music control. After each condition, participants viewed a collage of 24 international affective picture system (IAPS) images. Memory for details within all 5 collages was tested after a 30 minute delay. Results clearly support the arousal hypothesis. Images presented after music that induced high arousal were better remembered, irrespective of enjoyment or picture valence. The effect was further moderated by motivational type, with memory enhanced only for participants high on the BAS Reward Motivation scale. Findings are discussed in terms of emotional arousal in response to rewarding cues.
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Interpretation of anxiety as facilitative or debilitative may have a greater influence on a musician's performance than the intensity of performance anxiety experienced. This preliminary study investigated the relationships between... more
Interpretation of anxiety as facilitative or debilitative may have a greater influence on a musician's performance than the intensity of performance anxiety experienced. This preliminary study investigated the relationships between perceived control, a physiological index of control (cortisol), and perceptions of anxiety in music performance. Thirty-five undergraduate music students (10 male, 25 female) provided measures of salivary cortisol and completed the Performance Anxiety Questionnaire (PAQ) and a modified version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-M) immediately following a short performance examination. The Anxiety Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and a baseline measure of cortisol were completed on a separate occasion. Musicians appear to experience high levels of anxiety and tend to interpret their anxiety in a debilitative direction. Perceived control over internal reactions correlated significantly with somatic anxiety direction and with somatic and cognitive anxiety intensity, which suggests that musicians are more concerned with controlling their internal physical state rather than the outside environment. No other correlations were observed, and implications for treatment are discussed.
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As the application of positive education becomes more prevalent in schools, the importance of gathering information on optimal processes and outcomes associated with the programs, increases. The fulfillment of psychological needs such as... more
As the application of positive education becomes more prevalent in schools, the importance of gathering information on optimal processes and outcomes associated with the programs, increases. The fulfillment of psychological needs such as competence, relatedness and autonomy, have seldomly been explored, yet they seem inextricably linked with well-being. It is also important to examine program qualities relating to delivery, relevance and practice opportunities. The current study examines (i) psychological need satisfaction as an outcome, using a quasi-experimental design and (ii) the processes involved in program delivery, using an explanatory sequential design. Year 9 students participating in the Geelong Grammar School (GGS) Timbertop well-being experience in Australia (n = 119) and 79 best matched well-being as usual (WBAU) students completed a psychological need satisfaction survey. A subgroup of 46 students also participated in focus groups. Mixed design analyses of variance indicated that the Timbertop Positive Education students experienced improved competence, relatedness and autonomy after the school year compared with ‘WBAU’ students. Findings from student focus groups also support the importance of well sequenced, active, focused and explicit learning processes for program success. This study provides support for building psychological need satisfaction with a positive education program that adopts practical, interactive and goal-oriented well-being learnings. This is encouraging and supports a context adapted replication and evaluation of the general Positive Education approach adopted by GGS in other schools.
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Emotion-enhanced memory occurs when an arousal response to an emotion stimulus strengthens memory consolidation. We tested whether listening to emotionally arousing music enhanced memory in this way. In a within-subjects design, 37... more
Emotion-enhanced memory occurs when an arousal response to an emotion stimulus strengthens memory consolidation. We tested whether listening to emotionally arousing music enhanced memory in this way. In a within-subjects design, 37 participants (18 to 50 years, 22 female) listened to two of their own highly enjoyed music tracks, two self-rated neutral tracks from other participants’ selections, and a five-minute radio interview. After each listening episode, participants memorised a unique array of 24 images. Subjective and physiological emotional arousal was monitored throughout the experiment and free recall of all images within the five image arrays was tested at the end. As predicted, compared to the music and non-music controls, self-selected enjoyed music elicited greater subjective and physiological changes consistent with emotion, and more details from images presented after enjoyed music were recalled than after listening to the radio interview. A multiple regression analysis revealed that physiological changes consistent with an emotional arousal response to enjoyed music reliably predicted memory. Further research with larger samples is needed to replicate these exploratory findings.
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Research Interests: Psychology, Medicine, Protein synthesis, Memory, Discrimination Learning, and 14 moreAnimals, Male, Norepinephrine, Arousal, Chickens, Operant Conditioning, Long Term Memory, Age Factors, Propranolol, Acoustic Stimulation, Avoidance Learning, photic stimulation, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, and Medical and Health Sciences
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Abstract Given the ubiquity and interactive power of smartphones, there are opportunities to develop smartphone applications (apps) that provide novel, highly accessible mental health supports. This paper details the development of a... more
Abstract Given the ubiquity and interactive power of smartphones, there are opportunities to develop smartphone applications (apps) that provide novel, highly accessible mental health supports. This paper details the development of a smartphone app, “MoodMission,” that aims to provide evidence-based Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) strategies for mood- and anxiety-related problems, contributing to the prevention of clinically significant depression and anxiety disorders and serving as an adjunct to therapeutic interventions delivered by trained health professionals. MoodMission was designed to deliver strategies in the form of real-time, momentary responses to user-reported low moods and anxiety. The development process involved: (a) construction of a battery of strategies, (b) empirical evaluation, (c) a software and behavioral plan design and testing process, (d) user feedback, and (e) a public launch. A pilot study of 44 participants completed the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS; Hides et al., 2014) for usability testing and feedback. MoodMission was rated significantly higher than standardized health app norms on the majority of the domains, including Entertainment, Interest, Customization, Target Group, Graphics, Visual Appeal, Quality of Information, Quantity of Information, Visual Information, Credibility of Source, Recommendation to Use, Estimated Frequency of Use, and Overall Rating (Hedges’s g range 0.57–1.97, p
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An important aspect of researching everyday music use is determining the reasons people have for listening to music. While this has been the focus of an extensive body of research, findings have been inconsistent, and the frequencies and... more
An important aspect of researching everyday music use is determining the reasons people have for listening to music. While this has been the focus of an extensive body of research, findings have been inconsistent, and the frequencies and affective outcomes of different reasons for listening remain unclear. Emotional reasons for listening are of particular interest, as these have been consistently shown to be of central importance to everyday music use. The current study aimed to provide empirical data to clarify the frequencies of reasons for listening, and their affective outcomes, by using the experience sampling method (ESM). Participants ( N = 327; mean age 21.02 years, SD = 6.18) used the MuPsych app, a mobile ESM designed for the real-time and ecologically valid measurement of personal music listening. Results revealed that emotional reasons were most frequently used only when the listener was in a negative mood. Listening to cope with a situation or forget problems was associ...
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Abstract Physiological measures provide a useful complement to self-report indices of mental health and well-being. The cortisol awakening response (CAR) has been associated with mental distress, but less consistently so with positive... more
Abstract Physiological measures provide a useful complement to self-report indices of mental health and well-being. The cortisol awakening response (CAR) has been associated with mental distress, but less consistently so with positive functioning. In this study, the utility of two CAR indices as a measure of the full spectrum of mental health and well-being in a sample of healthy adolescents was explored. Forty-seven adolescents (14M, 33F; mean age 13.89, SD = .73) completed questionnaires on mental distress and positive functioning, and provided three saliva samples for cortisol analysis as well as demographic and life event information. Correlational analyses revealed that both absolute CAR (CARi) and area under the curve during awakening (CARAUC) indices correlated positively with measures of mental distress, and inversely with measures of positive functioning. When the significant life events score was controlled, moderate to strong effects were maintained with negative and positive affect, mental well-being, satisfaction with life and perceived social support from significant others. These findings provide the first data confirming that CAR is a reliable index of positive functioning in healthy adolescents.
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The measurement of everyday music use remains a challenge for researchers, with many of the available methodologies limited by intrusiveness or lack of ecological validity. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) addresses such limitations... more
The measurement of everyday music use remains a challenge for researchers, with many of the available methodologies limited by intrusiveness or lack of ecological validity. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) addresses such limitations by assessing current subjective experience at various times throughout participants’ everyday functioning. The aim of the current project was to develop and trial a mobile ESM (m-ESM) capable of collecting event-related data during natural listening episodes. This methodology was designed to maintain a natural and familiar listening experience for participants, and to collect real-time data on personal music listening. An application (app) was created which utilized mobile-device technology, and allowed combination of experience sampling with a personal music player. Analyses were performed on trial data from 101 participants to determine the efficacy of the m-ESM. Results indicated that this methodology would maintain ecological validity and cause m...
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Previous research has indicated a role for both the neuronal (nNOS) and endothelial (eNOS) nitric oxide isoforms in memory formation. In addition, two distinct periods of activity of nitric oxide activity, dissociated by hemispheric... more
Previous research has indicated a role for both the neuronal (nNOS) and endothelial (eNOS) nitric oxide isoforms in memory formation. In addition, two distinct periods of activity of nitric oxide activity, dissociated by hemispheric localization, are implicated following passive avoidance training in the chick. In the present study, we trained black Australorp-white Leghorn chicks on a color discrimination avoidance task. Diphenyleneiodonium chloride (1 μM) or N-propyl-l-arginine (50 μM) was administered into either the left or right hemisphere of the chick brain in an attempt to differentiate the effects of inhibiting eNOS or nNOS, respectively. The memory loss previously observed following administration of diphenyleneiodonium chloride between 10 and 20 min posttraining was found to be lateralized to the right hemisphere, although administration of this agent into the left hemisphere around the time of training was also amnestic. In contrast, N-propyl-l-arginine caused memory loss...
Research Interests: Neuroscience, Psychology, Enzyme Inhibitors, Medicine, Color Perception, and 15 moreMemory, Biological Sciences, Brain, Discrimination Learning, Nitric oxide, Animals, Amnesia, Nitric Oxide Synthase, Chickens, Isoenzymes, Arginine, Functional Laterality, Avoidance Learning, ENOS, and Medical and Health Sciences
Previous studies with general inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase have yielded variable and contradictory results with respect to their effects on memory. This may have been due to differential effects of blocking the various isoforms of... more
Previous studies with general inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase have yielded variable and contradictory results with respect to their effects on memory. This may have been due to differential effects of blocking the various isoforms of this enzyme. We show that day-old chicks trained on a single-trial passive-avoidance task suffered significant memory loss from ∼40 min post-training following post-training intracranial administration of a potent inhibitor of eNOS. Administration of a specific nNOS or iNOS inhibitor at the same time had no effect on retention, although a role for either of these isoforms when administered at a different time after learning has yet to be fully investigated. The onset of memory loss following eNOS inhibition is the same as observed following general NOS inhibition, which suggests that amnestic effects observed in previous studies using nonspecific inhibitors may be attributable to blocking the function of eNOS. The findings indicate that eNOS may pla...
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Group singing is a common feature of classroom-based music education, and has often been proposed to have benefits that extend beyond acquisition of music skills, primarily in academic achievement. However, potential social and emotional... more
Group singing is a common feature of classroom-based music education, and has often been proposed to have benefits that extend beyond acquisition of music skills, primarily in academic achievement. However, potential social and emotional well-being benefits have been under-represented in these discussions. This article proposes that an evolutionary lens provides a helpful framework for understanding how music education can contribute to student well-being. Specifically, group singing may a) create a shared emotional experience which is generally positive; and b) increase group cohesion and pro-social behaviours. It is proposed that, while these changes are generally immediate and short-term, regular participation in group singing may lead to stable, persistent changes in affective style and sociability. The implications for music education are discussed, particularly for improving the social and emotional wellbeing of students.
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A consistent theme across general theories of emotion is that intense emotions are accompanied by increased levels of physiological arousal. The aim in the current study was to determine whether music which elicited intense emotions... more
A consistent theme across general theories of emotion is that intense emotions are accompanied by increased levels of physiological arousal. The aim in the current study was to determine whether music which elicited intense emotions produced higher levels of physiological arousal than less emotionally powerful music. Twenty-one participants (9 females, 12 males) were exposed to relaxing music, arousing (but not emotionally powerful) music, an emotionally powerful film scene, and a music piece selected by participants as ‘emotionally powerful’. A range of physiological and subjective measures of arousal was recorded before and during the treatments. The emotionally powerful music treatment elicited significantly greater increases in skin conductance and number of chills than the other treatments. The findings are discussed in terms of the sensitivity of skin conductance and chills as measures of emotional intensity, and it is suggested the study offers some support for the emotivist ...
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High quality monitoring of mental health and well-being over an extended period is essential to understand how communities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and how to best tailor interventions. Multiple community threats may also have... more
High quality monitoring of mental health and well-being over an extended period is essential to understand how communities respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and how to best tailor interventions. Multiple community threats may also have cumulative impact on mental health, so examination across several contexts is important. The objective of this study is to report on changes in mental health and well-being in response to the Australian bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic. This study utilized an Experience-Sampling-Method (ESM), using the smartphone-based mood monitoring application, MoodPrism. Participants were prompted once a day to complete a brief survey inquiring about symptoms of depression and anxiety, and several well-being indices, including arousal, emotional valence, self-esteem, motivation, social connectedness, meaning and purpose, and control. Participants were N = 755 Australians (aged 13 years and above) who downloaded and used MoodPrism, between 2018 and 2020. Results show...
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As populations age, it is critical to understand how psycho-social wellbeing supports successful ageing. The health sector is increasingly asking how best to improve social connection and affective state because of their positive... more
As populations age, it is critical to understand how psycho-social wellbeing supports successful ageing. The health sector is increasingly asking how best to improve social connection and affective state because of their positive influence on overall health. Choral participation has been proposed as a particularly effective way to improve socio-emotional wellbeing, due to benefits of music exposure, social opportunities, and the act of singing. It may be, however, that improvements in wellbeing are also dependent on individual attitudes towards participation, including preference, motivation, and exercising agency. There is a need for studies that account for the influence of choice and preference as they may predict benefits for wellbeing. Findings are presented here from a quasi-experimental study exploring whether choral participation yields greater benefits for wellbeing in the long term (seven months) than does participation in an exercise group that shares some of the nonspeci...
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Objective There is an abundance of evidence supporting the efficacy of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), but few studies have evaluated mobile applications (apps) that provide CBT strategies. This study investigating the... more
Objective There is an abundance of evidence supporting the efficacy of computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), but few studies have evaluated mobile applications (apps) that provide CBT strategies. This study investigating the relationships between mental health outcomes and engagement with a mobile app that recommended short CBT strategies. Method Participants downloaded the MoodMission app from the iOS and Android app stores, completed in‐app baseline assessments, and final assessments 30-days later. Participants reported their mood to MoodMission when they were feeling low or anxious and received a list of short CBT strategies to choose from and engage in. Data from 617 assessment completers (71% female; M age = 27-years) were analysed via hierarchical and mediated regressions. Results App engagement ratings predicted increases in mental wellbeing. Mediation analyses revealed that there were indirect effects of app engagement on depression, anxiety, and mental wellbeing via the mediator of coping self‐efficacy. Subsample analyses found this only for participants who were experiencing a moderate level of depression or anxiety at the time of the baseline assessment. Conclusions Engaging with an app that provides CBT strategies can increase mental wellbeing, and coping self‐efficacy may mediate effects of the app in individuals experiencing moderate depression or anxiety.
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Objective: To determine the size of the effects and feasibility (recruitment and retention rates) of a therapeutic songwriting protocol for in-patients and community-dwelling people with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury.... more
Objective: To determine the size of the effects and feasibility (recruitment and retention rates) of a therapeutic songwriting protocol for in-patients and community-dwelling people with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury. Design: Randomized controlled trial with songwriting intervention and care-as-usual control groups, in a mixed measures design assessed at three time points. Participants: A total of 47 participants (3 in-patients with acquired brain injury, 20 community participants with acquired brain injury, 12 in-patients with spinal cord injury, and 12 community participants with spinal cord injury: 23 1208 days post injury). Interventions: The intervention group received a 12-session identity-targeted songwriting programme, where participants created three songs reflecting on perceptions of past, present, and future self. Control participants received care as usual. Measures: Baseline, postintervention, and follow-up measures comprised the Head Injury Semantic Diffe...
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This pilot study examined how 15 participants in early rehabilitation described their self-composed Songs 6- to 12-months following participation in a 6-week identity-focused songwriting program. Specific focus was given to the process of... more
This pilot study examined how 15 participants in early rehabilitation described their self-composed Songs 6- to 12-months following participation in a 6-week identity-focused songwriting program. Specific focus was given to the process of meaning making and identity reconstruction in the participants' self-composed songs. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews ( = 15) and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings were developed idiographically as super-ordinate themes unique to each participant, then analyzed across cases to identify recurrent themes and subthemes. Participants described the songwriting process as taking them through one of four distinct recovery journeys described by individuals following acquired neurodisability who underwent a focused therapeutic songwriting program. These included (1) re-conceptualizing values and shifting perspectives about self (my body is broken but my mind has been set free); (2) recogni...
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Many smartphone applications (apps) for mental health (MHapps) are available to the public. However, few have been the subject of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and the change processes that are hypothesized to mediate claimed... more
Many smartphone applications (apps) for mental health (MHapps) are available to the public. However, few have been the subject of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and the change processes that are hypothesized to mediate claimed effects have not been previously studied. This RCT compared the efficacy of three publicly available MHapps to a waitlist control condition in a community sample, in which no MHapp was provided. The three MHapps included cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) toolkit app MoodKit, mood tracking app MoodPrism, and CBT strategy app MoodMission. Participants were randomly allocated to each condition, completed a baseline assessment, downloaded their allocated MHapp, and completed a second assessment 30 days later, with n = 226 included in final analyses (81% female; M age = 34 years). Compared to the control condition, all MHapp groups experienced increases in mental wellbeing, MoodKit and MoodMission groups experienced decreases in depression, and no groups ex...
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Acquired brain injury (ABI) presents a significant threat to sense of self and necessitates a complex process of psychosocial adjustment. Self-concept changes remain understudied in the early stages of inpatient rehabilitation. The aim of... more
Acquired brain injury (ABI) presents a significant threat to sense of self and necessitates a complex process of psychosocial adjustment. Self-concept changes remain understudied in the early stages of inpatient rehabilitation. The aim of the current study was to examine changes in self-concept, distress, wellbeing and functional skills for five inpatients undertaking a music therapy intervention within a subacute rehabilitation centre in Victoria, Australia. Participants completed a six-week, 12-session therapeutic songwriting programme to produce past-, current- and future-self-focused songs. A range of self-concept, subjective wellbeing and distress measures were completed pre-, mid- and post-intervention. A descriptive case series approach was applied to determine trends in pre-post scores for five individual cases. Participants showing the greatest gains across self-concept and subjective wellbeing indices also showed the greatest functional gains on the Functional Independence...
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Recent studies have demonstrated increased activity in brain regions associated with emotion and reward when listening to pleasurable music. Unexpected change in musical features intensity and tempo - and thereby enhanced tension and... more
Recent studies have demonstrated increased activity in brain regions associated with emotion and reward when listening to pleasurable music. Unexpected change in musical features intensity and tempo - and thereby enhanced tension and anticipation - is proposed to be one of the primary mechanisms by which music induces a strong emotional response in listeners. Whether such musical features coincide with central measures of emotional response has not, however, been extensively examined. In this study, subjective and physiological measures of experienced emotion were obtained continuously from 18 participants (12 females, 6 males; 18-38 years) who listened to four stimuli-pleasant music, unpleasant music (dissonant manipulations of their own music), neutral music, and no music, in a counter-balanced order. Each stimulus was presented twice: electroencephalograph (EEG) data were collected during the first, while participants continuously subjectively rated the stimuli during the second ...
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Veterans commonly report listening to music as a means of self-managing their mental health, yet no research has systematically explored how veterans use music for the purpose of regulating their emotions. In the current study, surveys... more
Veterans commonly report listening to music as a means of self-managing their mental health, yet no research has systematically explored how veterans use music for the purpose of regulating their emotions. In the current study, surveys were completed by 205 Australian veterans (mean age 59.57, SD 0.83), assessing their affective mental health (depression and stress) and related physical and behavioral problems (self-reported general health, alcohol abuse and negative social interactions). Veterans listened to music more in their everyday life than any other leisure activity reported. Music-listening for emotion-regulation purposes significantly contributed to the prediction of depression, perceived stress and negative social interactions, when gender and positive social interactions were controlled. Veterans with mental health problems listened to music for both emotional and cognitive reasons, and the most predictive emotion-regulation strategies used with music were diversion, dis...
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The mediating effects of emotion regulation ( reappraisal and suppression) were examined in the relationship between music engagement and well-being. Emotion regulation strategies (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire; Gross & John, 2003) and... more
The mediating effects of emotion regulation ( reappraisal and suppression) were examined in the relationship between music engagement and well-being. Emotion regulation strategies (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire; Gross & John, 2003) and styles of music engagement (Music Use questionnaire; Chin & Rickard, 2012) were assessed in a large diverse sample of 637 participants. A battery of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being measures (International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form; Thompson, 2007; Satisfaction With Life Scale; Diener, Emmons, Larsen, & Griffin, 1985; Mental Health Continuum-Short Form; Keyes et al., 2008) was also administered. Results demonstrated that the path of mediation was dependent on the type of emotion regulation strategy utilized, as well as the way in which one engages with music. Findings provide initial evidence that engaging with music for the purposes of cognitive and emotion regulation may enhance well-being primarily through the habitual us...
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Mobile apps are being used increasingly for mental health purposes, but evidence of their efficacy remains limited. The mechanisms underlying any effects of such apps are also unclear. This study examined the effectiveness of a... more
Mobile apps are being used increasingly for mental health purposes, but evidence of their efficacy remains limited. The mechanisms underlying any effects of such apps are also unclear. This study examined the effectiveness of a self-monitoring mobile phone app by investigating the relationships between app engagement and mental health outcomes. Participants downloaded the MoodPrism app from the iOS and Android app stores, completing in-app assessments at start of use and again 30days later. The app prompted participants daily to complete a short mood questionnaire and formulated their responses into a mood diary. Data from 234 assessment completers (73% female; M age = 34.8 years) were analysed via hierarchical and mediation regressions. In this community sample, app engagement ratings predicted decreases in depression and anxiety, and increases in mental well-being. These effects were mediated by increases in emotional self-awareness, but only for participants who were clinically d...
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Emotion-enhanced memory occurs when an arousal response to an emotion stimulus strengthens memory consolidation. We tested whether listening to emotionally arousing music enhanced memory in this way. In a within-subjects design, 37... more
Emotion-enhanced memory occurs when an arousal response to an emotion stimulus strengthens memory consolidation. We tested whether listening to emotionally arousing music enhanced memory in this way. In a within-subjects design, 37 participants (18 to 50 years, 22 female) listened to two of their own highly enjoyed music tracks, two self-rated neutral tracks from other participants’ selections, and a five-minute radio interview. After each listening episode, participants memorised a unique array of 24 images. Subjective and physiological emotional arousal was monitored throughout the experiment and free recall of all images within the five image arrays was tested at the end. As predicted, compared to the music and non-music controls, self-selected enjoyed music elicited greater subjective and physiological changes consistent with emotion, and more details from images presented after enjoyed music were recalled than after listening to the radio interview. A multiple regression analys...
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Personal music listening on mobile phones is rapidly growing as a popular means of everyday engagement with music. This portable and flexible style of listening allows for the immediate selection of music to fulfil emotional needs,... more
Personal music listening on mobile phones is rapidly growing as a popular means of everyday engagement with music. This portable and flexible style of listening allows for the immediate selection of music to fulfil emotional needs, presenting it as a powerful resource for emotion regulation. The experience sampling method (ESM) is ideal for observing music listening behavior, as it assesses current subjective experience during natural everyday music episodes. The current study aimed to develop a comprehensive model of personal music listening, and to determine the interaction of variables that produce various emotional outcomes. Data were collected from 195 participants using the MuPsych app: a mobile ESM designed for the real-time and ecologically valid measurement of personal music listening. Multilevel structural equation modelling was utilized to determine predictors of emotional outcomes on both experience and listener levels. Results revealed that music generally returns affec...
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Emotion regulation (ER) becomes increasingly important across adolescent development, and promotes psychological flexibility, resilience and well-being in youth. Positive education programs (PEPs) combine academic training with positive... more
Emotion regulation (ER) becomes increasingly important across adolescent development, and promotes psychological flexibility, resilience and well-being in youth. Positive education programs (PEPs) combine academic training with positive psychology interventions (PPIs) to increase well-being and reduce mental ill-health. Despite considerable overlap between PPIs and ER models, the role and relevance of ER to PEPs remains unclear. This review aimed to evaluate the relationship of ER to PEPs targeting adolescents. First, to evaluate the relationship of ER to domains of well-being targeted by school-based PPIs. Second, to examine whether school-based PPIs can improve adolescents’ ER capacity. Third, to evaluate the role of ER in well-being outcomes of PEPs. Results support the relevance of ER to domains of well-being outlined by the revised PERMA model, including positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and health. ER can influence the degree to which students benefit from PEP participation. It remains to be determined whether ER capacity is improved as a result of exposure to positive education programs. Findings are limited by the small and heterogeneous group of interventions examined, and the use of inconsistent ER measures. Further research of the role of ER in positive education may contribute to greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying their effectiveness and further promote the psychological well-being of adolescents.
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Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients face unique identity challenges associated with physical limitations, higher comorbid depression, increased suicidality and reduced subjective well-being. Post-injury identity is often unaddressed in... more
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients face unique identity challenges associated with physical limitations, higher comorbid depression, increased suicidality and reduced subjective well-being. Post-injury identity is often unaddressed in subacute rehabilitation environments where critical physical and functional rehabilitation goals are prioritized. Therapeutic songwriting has demonstrated prior efficacy in promoting healthy adjustment and as a means of expression for post-injury narratives. The current study sought to examine the identity narratives of therapeutic songwriting participants. Case-series analysis of the individual identity trajectories of eight individuals. Subacute rehabilitation facility, Victoria, Australia. Eight individuals with an SCI; 7 males and 1 female. Six-week therapeutic songwriting intervention facilitated by a music therapist to promote identity rehabilitation. Identity, subjective well-being and distress, emotional state. Three participants demonstrated positive trajectories and a further three showed negative trajectories; remaining participants were ambiguous in their response. Injury severity differentiated those with positive trajectories from those with negative trajectories, with greater injury severity apparent for those showing negative trends. Self-concept also improved more in those with positive trajectories. Core demographic variables did not however meaningfully predict the direction of change in core identity or wellbeing indices. Identity-focused songwriting holds promise as a means of promoting healthy identity reintegration. Further research on benefits for those with less severe spinal injuries is warranted.
Research Interests: Psychology and Medicine
PERSONAL MUSIC LISTENING ON MOBILE PHONES IS rapidly growing as a popular means of everyday engagement with music. This portable and flexible style of listening allows for the immediate selection of music to fulfil emotional needs,... more
PERSONAL MUSIC LISTENING ON MOBILE PHONES IS rapidly growing as a popular means of everyday engagement with music. This portable and flexible style of listening allows for the immediate selection of music to fulfil emotional needs, presenting it as a powerful resource for emotion regulation. The experience sampling method (ESM) is ideal for observing music listening behavior, as it assesses current subjective experience during natural everyday music episodes. The current study aimed to develop a comprehensive model of personal music listening, and to determine the interaction of variables that produce various emotional outcomes. Data were collected from 195 participants using the MuPsych app: a mobile ESM designed for the real-time and ecologically valid measurement of personal music listening. Multilevel structural equation modelling was utilized to determine predictors of emotional outcomes on both experience and listener levels. Results revealed that music generally returns affec...
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Neurological trauma is associated with significant damage to people's pre-injury self-concept. Therapeutic songwriting has been linked with changes in self-concept and improved psychological well-being. This study analyzed the lyrics... more
Neurological trauma is associated with significant damage to people's pre-injury self-concept. Therapeutic songwriting has been linked with changes in self-concept and improved psychological well-being. This study analyzed the lyrics of songs composed by inpatients with neurological injuries who participated in a targeted songwriting program. The aim of this study was to understand which of the subdomains of the self-concept were the most frequently expressed in songs. An independent, deductive content analysis of 36 songs composed by 12 adults with spinal cord injury or brain injury (11 males, mean age 41 years +/- 13) were undertaken by authors 1 and 2. Deductive analysis indicated that when writing about the past self, people created songs that reflected a strong focus on family and descriptions of their personality. In contrast, there is a clear preoccupation with the physical self, on the personal self, and a tendency for spiritual and moral reflections to emerge during the...
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Background Emotional well-being is a primary component of mental health and well-being. Monitoring changes in emotional state daily over extended periods is, however, difficult using traditional methodologies. Providing mental health... more
Background Emotional well-being is a primary component of mental health and well-being. Monitoring changes in emotional state daily over extended periods is, however, difficult using traditional methodologies. Providing mental health support is also challenging when approximately only 1 in 2 people with mental health issues seek professional help. Mobile phone technology offers a sustainable means of enhancing self-management of emotional well-being. Objective This paper aims to describe the development of a mobile phone tool designed to monitor emotional changes in a natural everyday context and in real time. Methods This evidence-informed mobile phone app monitors emotional mental health and well-being, and it provides links to mental health organization websites and resources. The app obtains data via self-report psychological questionnaires, experience sampling methodology (ESM), and automated behavioral data collection. Results Feedback from 11 individuals (age range 16-52 year...
Research Interests: Psychology and Medicine
Music performance anxiety (MPA) has debilitating effects on many developing and established musicians, including uncomfortable physical symptoms, a cessation of satisfaction in performing music, performance avoidance, and even leaving the... more
Music performance anxiety (MPA) has debilitating effects on many developing and established musicians, including uncomfortable physical symptoms, a cessation of satisfaction in performing music, performance avoidance, and even leaving the profession of music entirely. Previous research has indicated that anxiety is more prevalent in certain personality types, such as introverted and neurotic personality types. Further, Eysenck proposed that different personality types may be differentially susceptible to subtypes of anxiety, for instance, with introverts more subject to psychic/cognitive anxiety than are extraverts and extraverts more subject to somatic anxiety than are introverts. While there is some evidence that neuroticism, introversion and trait anxiety have been found to be associated with MPA, only a few studies have examined the development of MPA among an adolescent demographic. The current study investigated the relationships between gender, personality traits, trait-anxiety levels and MPA among adolescent Australian musicians. Over 67% of the variance in MPA was explained by a model consisting of gender, neuroticism, trait anxiety and extraversion, although only trait anxiety and neuroticism were significant unique predictors of MPA. Identifying Australian children who tend to have higher levels of general anxiety and/or neurotic personality traits may help to address the problems associated with the prevalence of MPA amongst our future musician population.
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Veterans commonly report listening to music as a means of self-managing their mental health, yet no research has systematically explored how veterans use music for the purpose of regulating their emotions. In the current study, surveys... more
Veterans commonly report listening to music as a means of self-managing their mental health, yet no research has systematically explored how veterans use music for the purpose of regulating their emotions. In the current study, surveys were completed by 205 Australian veterans (mean age 59.57, SD 0.83), assessing their affective mental health (depression and stress) and related physical and behavioral problems (self-reported general health, alcohol abuse and negative social interactions). Veterans listened to music more in their everyday life than any other leisure activity reported. Music-listening for emotion-regulation purposes significantly contributed to the prediction of depression, perceived stress and negative social interactions, when gender and positive social interactions were controlled. Veterans with mental health problems listened to music for both emotional and cognitive reasons, and the most predictive emotion-regulation strategies used with music were diversion, discharge, and mental work. Music-listening did not however assist prediction of self-reported general health or alcohol abuse. The current findings demonstrate that veterans with higher levels of affective dysfunction listened to music to manage emotional and cognitive problems. Personal music-listening therefore offers substantial promise as a self-management tool to complement professional treatment of affective disorders in this vulnerable population.