The Enhancing and Impairing Effect of Sad Music: Moderating Role of Cognitive Reappraisal

Seemingly paradoxical, sad music has exhibited potential in improving mood in individuals, as well as being detrimental to mood and indicative of maladaptive behaviours concerning emotion regulation. Research suggests that different adaptive and maladaptive behaviours underlie sad music listening. As such, cognitive reappraisal (CR) was explored, investigating its effectiveness at promoting adaptive behaviours associated with sad music listening, while negating the negative psychological outcomes. CR is a cognitive skill that focuses on the reframing and re-evaluation of negative events in a positive way. Across two studies, the combined effect of sad music and CR, when exposed to neutral or sad events on mood, was explored. Data analyses revealed that CR significantly enhanced mood notably more than the control task. A three-way interaction effect revealed that increases to MDD severity was associated with worse mood regulation across all but one condition. Only happy music and the control task was associated with an increase in mood regulation despite increased MDD severity. Therefore, CR was shown to be effective in improving one's mood, though mood regulation typically decreased as MDD severity increased. The discussion covered how these results fit into the existing literature and covers the theoretical implications.