Negative Effects of Music

For kids with a healthy self-image and varied interests, music

probably has little or no influence on their values and lifestyle
choices. However, parents should be aware that violent, racist,
homophobic or sexist lyrics in much of today's popular music could
have an impact on impressionable young people who are just
developing a sense of identity and self-worth. Parents should
challenge these kinds of negative representations and discuss
them with their kids.

Music preferences can be a warning sign of a distressed teen.

Isolated, angry or depressed youth may be attracted to music that feeds their feelings of
despair and hostility.

Numerous studies indicate that a preference for heavy metal music may be a significant
marker for alienation, substance abuse, psychiatric disorders, suicide risk, sex-role
stereotyping or risk-taking behaviours during adolescence. (Source: American Academy
of Pediatrics, 1999)

If your child is withdrawn and alienated from peers, or shows violent tendencies towards
self or others, pay attention to what music is being listened to. Use theChecklist for
Violent Youth (on the right-hand side of this page) for identifying signs of potential
violence. Make sure the child's mental health needs are being addressed through
appropriate school, medical or social-service counselling.

Music and Mood

 Music has a therapeutic effect. Soft music such as classical or lullabies
can calm a child down and help the child sleep. Kids also often turn to music
to feel a certain mood or to validate the mood they are already feeling. In the
book "Media Violence and Children," the authors of a chapter on "The Effects
of Violent Music on Children and Adolescents" cite numerous studies that
show that adolescent girls often turn to music to lighten their mood, while boys
sometimes use music to increase their adrenaline.

Music as Social Orientation

 Music also helps children orient themselves socially. Kids who listen to
popular music tend to have more friends and achieve a higher social status
in school. A shared preference for a certain style of music can serve as the
basis of a friendship, or listening to popular music can win social approval.
Listening to popular music helps children feel a sense of belonging, in addition
to creating an individual identity, as kids look for music that not only includes
them in, but also sets them apart from their peers. Music plays a key role in
the developmental stage of middle-school aged children.