The Relationship Between Natural Music Listening Frequency and Well-being in Senior Living Facilities
Aveer Singh Bawa
03/09/2026
Listening to music is a common human activity and an enjoyable experience for many, offering numerous benefits. Specifically, many studies using music interventions have found that music can improve well-being, particularly in geriatric populations. However, less is known about how natural music-listening habits relate to emotional and mental well-being. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine how the frequency of natural music listening (i.e., the amount of time spent listening to music) relates to emotional and mental well-being among residents of senior living facilities. Fifty-five participants completed an original survey on their music listening habits and several questions on their emotional and mental well-being, measured using items from the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale and Emotional Well-Being Scale. Results revealed an association between listening to more music and higher scores on the emotional and mental well-being survey. Additionally, non-musical activities such as TV use and socializing were not significantly associated with well-being, and music listening associations persisted after adjusting for confounders measured in the study. Overall, these findings support the notion that those who listen to more music, rather than other types of media (e.g., TV, radio), show greater positive mental and emotional well-being; however, follow-up studies will help better understand music listening’s potential relationship with well-being in this population. Ultimately, the present research helps set the stage for accessible, effective methods to improve the well-being of residents in senior living facilities.