Clinical Implications of College Students’ Music Listening Habits and Perceptions of Personal Impact

College-aged students face mental health challenges while separated from their usual support network. Access to counseling and psychiatric services may often be challenging to obtain, and music therapy is under-utilized in this setting. Previous researchers have suggested the use of music therapy designed music listening experiences to help reduce stress and anxiety. The aim of this study was to understand the role of music in students’ lives, particularly in terms of mood management, their intentional use of music and perception of music’s effectiveness as a tool for wellness. First and second year undergraduate students living in campus housing were invited to participate in this online survey. Most students were not music majors. They answered questions exploring students’ frequency of music use, their intentional music usage, and the ways in which music impacted them. In total, 116 students (N = 800) responded to the questionnaire. Results indicated that many college students use music to influence mood, express personal identity, and use music as a diversion. The results indicated that college students often use music intentionally, accessing music streaming platforms individually more than in groups, and listen to specific artists or genres to match or influence their moods. Other students use music to increase their attention and to identify with their preferred music. Suggestions for music therapy clinical practice are provided for each category of results. With education, college students may better perceive how they use music intentionally and become more adept at using music for mood regulation, attention, and self-discovery.