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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Jan 16;7(1):e11482.
doi: 10.2196/11482.

Efficacy and Outcomes of a Music-Based Emotion Regulation Mobile App in Distressed Young People: Randomized Controlled Trial

Leanne Hides  1   2   3 , Genevieve Dingle  2 , Catherine Quinn  2 , Stoyan R Stoyanov  1   2   3 , Oksana Zelenko  4 , Dian Tjondronegoro  5 , Daniel Johnson  5 , Wendell Cockshaw  2   3 , David J Kavanagh  2   3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Efficacy and Outcomes of a Music-Based Emotion Regulation Mobile App in Distressed Young People: Randomized Controlled Trial

Leanne Hides et al. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. .

Abstract

Background: Emotion dysregulation increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Music can help regulate emotions, and mobile phones provide constant access to it. The Music eScape mobile app teaches young people how to identify and manage emotions using music.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of using Music eScape on emotion regulation, distress, and well-being at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. Moderators of outcomes and user ratings of app quality were also examined.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial compared immediate versus 1-month delayed access to Music eScape in 169 young people (aged 16 to 25 years) with at least mild levels of mental distress (Kessler 10 score>17).

Results: No significant differences between immediate and delayed groups on emotion regulation, distress, or well-being were found at 1 month. Both groups achieved significant improvements in 5 of the 6 emotion regulation skills, mental distress, and well-being at 2, 3, and 6 months. Unhealthy music use moderated improvements on 3 emotion regulation skills. Users gave the app a high mean quality rating (mean 3.8 [SD 0.6]) out of 5.

Conclusions: Music eScape has the potential to provide a highly accessible way of improving young people's emotion regulation skills, but further testing is required to determine its efficacy. Targeting unhealthy music use in distressed young people may improve their emotion regulation skills.

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000051549; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=365974.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; emotion regulation; mHealth; music; telehealth.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Music eScape app: (left) home screen; (middle) music mood map; and (right) mood journey instructions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Consort diagram.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Adjusted mean emotion regulation (difficulties in emotional regulation scale) scores and unhealthy use of music.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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