Young People Feel Strongest Affinity Toward Music

Think back to when you were a teenager. Do you remember how excited you were when your favorite singer or band released new music? Did you listen to the music on repeat? Did you memorize the lyrics?

Now, fast forward to today. Are you still as excited as before about the latest album or download?

According to researchers, the answer is probably not.

Psychologists from the University of Cambridge, led by Arielle Bonneville-Roussy interviewed people whose ages ranged from 13 to 65 and who lived in the United States and United Kingdom. Researchers asked them how important music was to their lives and offered a range of responses from the most intense (“Music means a lot to me, and is a passion of mine” to the most disinterested (“Music has no particular interest for me”).

Teens reported the highest affinity to music with 41 percent stating “music means a lot to me) and a downward trend continues as the ages increase. Only 13 percent of the oldest age group in the study – 65-year-olds – reported that music meant a lot to them.

Researchers also found that young people were more likely to listen to music in public settings than older respondents and are more likely to spend part of their day listening to music. Not surprisingly, 18-year-olds spend 25 hours a week listening to music whereas 65-year-olds only spend 12 hours a week.

It is not shocking to us that other things compete for our interest as we get older – family, career, personal health – so it may be difficult for people to refer to music as a passion. We hope, however, that everyone can find a way to bring music into their lives.

What do you think of the results?

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