gms | German Medical Science

Cultural sensitivity and music listening have been closely related in social and human sciences for more than a century, impacting the effect of music preference on mood. Although several studies found that listeners more easily perceive emotions in music that is culturally familiar than in music which is culturally unfamiliar, studies do not highlight the therapeutic application of this knowledge in music therapy. The current quantitative study reports on the results of the Positive-Negative-Affect Schedule (PANAS), administered to participants from culturally diverse backgrounds (n=28). Affect was measured before and after listening to culturally relevant music, and before and after culturally non-relevant music. The results showed that there was a significant difference in induced affect when listening to culturally relevant music, whereas listening to culturally non-relevant music had no effect. The study provides insight into the importance of developing culturally sensitive music therapy practices.