Looking Within: An Investigation of Music Education Majors and Mental Health

Abstract

The primary purpose of this article was to establish the current state of mental health among music education majors. Music education majors across the United States ( N = 1137) self-reported indicators of depression, anxiety, and stress. According to the results, music education majors are highly busy, enrolling in an average of 16.5 credit hours (not including zero-credit courses) and rehearsing 9.75 hours a week; a majority of them also work for an average of 13 to 15 hours a week. Participants reported elevated levels of stress, with 57% exhibiting moderate to severe depression and over 70% exhibiting moderate to severe anxiety. We discuss the findings, provide implications for music teacher education, and share suggestions for future research.

A Comparison of Self-Reported Anxiety and Depression Among Undergraduate Music Majors and Nonmusic Majors

“…This finding is in agreement with Koops and Kuebel (2019) who reported that a majority of music majors perceive themselves to have mild to extreme levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Similarly, Kuebel (2019) and Payne et al (2020) noted that music education students, in particular, report high levels of anxiety and depression. Given these findings, I recommend that music faculty and music teacher educators help students to improve their mental health by providing structured support throughout every stage of the degree process, lessening the pressure of perfectionism that may be a byproduct of the conservatory-style approach of many music programs, reconceptualizing stressful situations as opportunities to improve, and implementing a plan of self-care.…”

“…Distress causes tension, nervousness, and fatigue that can adversely affect one's health (Hedden, 2005). Adequate sleep and GPA are both negatively correlated with anxiety and depression among music education students (Payne et al, 2020); therefore, students may alleviate distress by establishing healthy wellness behaviors related to sufficient sleep and academic success.…”

“…Previous related literature documents the mental health of music majors (Koops & Kuebel, 2019;Wristen, 2013), as well as music education majors specifically (Payne et al, 2020). However, there appears to be a lack of information related to how the mental health of collegiate music majors compares with students in other disciplines.…”

“…Music students must find time to study and to practice, attend classes and rehearsals, and regularly submit themselves to public scrutiny through performances. Music education majors in particular may be especially susceptible to anxiety, depression, and stress due to demanding course, rehearsal, and work schedules (Payne et al, 2020). Music students could view their heavier workloads and the difficulty of managing their time among all their responsibilities as a disadvantage compared with other college students (Conway et al, 2010).…”

An Exploratory Case Study of Mindfulness Techniques in a High School Band Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The perceived stress levels of these undergraduate students were higher than undergraduate students of other subject areas (Moore & Wilhelm, 2019). Payne et al (2020) surveyed music education majors across the United States to self-report indicators of depression, anxiety, and stress. Over half of the responses indicated moderate to severe depression (57%) and moderate to severe anxiety (70%).…”