A Pilot Within-Subject Investigation of Immediate Mood Responses to Culturally Rooted and Generic Music in Chennai

Abstract

Background: Music listening has been associated with emotion regulation and psychological well-being. However, limited research has examined immediate mood responses to participant-selected culturally rooted music in comparison with generic music within the Indian context. The present pilot study explored immediate mood responses and subjective listening experiences associated with these two music conditions among working women in Chennai.
Methods: A within-subject pre-test–post-test comparative design was employed among six working women aged 25–40 years. Participants underwent two receptive listening sessions involving generic instrumental music and participant-selected culturally rooted music, with a 24-hour interval between sessions. Immediate mood responses were assessed using a study-specific 14-item mood check-in comprising positive and negative mood descriptors rated on a 0–4 response scale. Qualitative responses were obtained through two open-ended feedback questions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests, while qualitative responses were analysed to identify recurring patterns in participants’ experiences.
Results: Both music conditions showed descriptive changes in mood. The mean change in positive mood was +5.67 following culturally rooted music and +2.33 following generic music. A statistically significant pre–post increase in positive mood was observed for the culturally rooted condition (W = 0.00, p = .036), whereas the corresponding change for generic music was not statistically significant (W = 1.50, p = .134). Qualitative responses included autobiographical memories, nostalgia, and personal associations during culturally rooted music sessions, while responses to generic music were primarily characterised by relaxation and calmness.
Conclusions: The findings provide preliminary observations that participant-selected culturally rooted music was associated with an increase in positive mood and with subjective listening experiences involving autobiographical memories and personal associations. Generic music was primarily associated with relaxation and calmness in participants’ qualitative responses.