Adolescent suicide: music preference as an indicator of vulnerability.
OBJECTIVE
This preliminary study investigated possible relationships between adolescents' music preference and aspects of their psychological health and lifestyle.


METHODS
Students (mean age 14.76 years) from two randomly chosen high schools completed self-report questionnaires on preferred music types and messages in the music. In addition the Youth Self-Report provided information about suicide ideation, deliberate self-harm, "depression," and "delinquency." Brief risk taking and drug taking scales were administered in addition to questions about family environment.


RESULTS
A marked gender bias was shown to exist with 74% of girls preferring pop music compared with 70.7% of boys preferring rock/metal. Significant associations appear to exist between a preference for rock/metal and suicidal thoughts, acts of deliberate self-harm, "depression," "delinquency," drug taking, and family dysfunction. This was all particularly true for girls. In addition, feeling sadder after listening to the preferred music appeared to distinguish the most disturbed group.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors recommend that further academic study of these associations is warranted. Both preference for rock/metal music, particularly in girls, and feeling worse after listening to the music may be indicators in adolescents of vulnerability to suicidal thoughts and actions.
Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.
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Martin
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Clarke
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Pearce
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data