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The Association for Youth, Children and Natural Psychology operates as a 501 c(3) non-profit, and is a New Jersey non-profit corporation.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
By reading this site, the reader acknowledges their personal responsibility in choices for mental health for themselves and their children, and agrees that the AYCNP or anyone associated with this site, bears no responsibility for one's personal decisions in choices for mental health. Anyone coming off medication should do so gradually rather than abruptly, and under a doctor's supervision. Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide should seek support.
Book covers in this column are Amazon-linked (off-site).
Unless otherwise stated, all text links are to on-site AYCNP pages.
The Teen Health Book: A Parents' Guide to Adolescent Health and Well-Being, by Ralph Lopez
 
The A Parents' Guide to Adolescent Health and Well-Being is an excellent general guide directed towards parents for successfully raising healthy teenagers. Lopez provides good tips for parents on topics of teen nutrition, health, and adolescent psychology.
Beyond the Blues: A Workbook to Help Teens Overcome Depression,
by
Lisa M. Schab LCSW
 
Depression is one very common among teenagers, whose bodies are rapidly changing, passing from childhood to adulthood. The emotional, mental, and social changes leave teens susceptible to sadness, confusion, of depression. Stress can be a factor in the onset of depression, and teenagers under pressure may feel stressed and overwhelmed.
Many people experience depression at one time or another in their lives, but during the adolescent years, the vast number of physical, emotional, and mental changes that occur make teens even more susceptible to feelings of confusion or sadness. However your depression originates, you must to learn to handle it so that you can manage the stresses of daily life. Lisa M. Schab, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with a private counseling practice in Chicago who has penned 14 self-help books and workbooks for both children and adolescents, as well as adults. She provides practical activities in Beyond the Blues for teens on coping with depression, ways to make friends, and how to deal with conflicts.
Sells like Teen Spirit: Music, Youth Culture, and Social Crisis by Ryan Moore
 
Moore pulls together the history of a number of musical genres, highlight the political and economic conditions as well as the social changes that contributed to the evolution of a number of rock subgenres. The book is of interest to those exploring youth and pop culture, and those interested in studying the history of music states Douglas Evans in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.
The Adolescent: Development, Relationships, and Culture (13th Edition), by Kim Gale Dolgin
 
The Adolescent: Development, Relationships, and Culture approaches adolescent psychology and sociology with an interdisciplinary approach, presenting both psychological and sociological aspects of adolescence, with a focus on educational elements, demographics, and economic data.
This text discusses numerous theories on adolescent psychology as well as outlining the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches to studying adolescent psychology and culture. Some of the topics discussed include youth ethnic identity formation, issues related to gender issues, youth and the Internet, the effect of single-parent families on teens, as well as many other pertinent topics.
Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J. Siegel MD
 
Neuoropsychiatrist Daneil Siegel's book Brainstorm is a New York Times bestseller that helps parents and teens work together in understanding the development of the mind of a teen, the science behind it, along with the practical implications these bring. The brain from 12 years of age through 24 develops rapidly and profoundly. What does this mean for the teenager and for the parents? The book helps bridge the gap in the generational divide between parents and teens.
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Images: "Woman Relaxing And Listening To Music Outdoors" by Sira Anamwong, courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net
Page updated: December 9, 2015
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Time Listening to Popular Music Correlated with Major Depression - Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) - in Adolescents
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh concluded that there is a correlation between major depression and the amount of time an adolescent spends with popular music. Conversely, major depression is reversely correlated with reading print media such as books, that is, more reading = less depression.
The amount of time teenagers (and children) spend listening to music is correlated with major depression. Photo: Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget
The study, published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, April 2011, examined data collected through telephone interviews during an eight-week period involving one hundred and six adolescents. The study was part of a larger neurobehavioral study of depression that was conducted between 2003 and 2008.
For each increasing quartile of audio/music use, there was an 80% increase in the odds of having major depression (MDD). For time spent reading, there was a 50% decrease in the odds of having MDD.
The study does not necessarily conclude a direct cause-and-effect relationship, although that might be one valid conclusion. Rather, there might be other correlational factors to consider in evaluating the evidence. Perhaps those who are more inclined towards music are also more inclined towards major depression.
One other possible angle from which to derive conclusions from the correlation between time spent listening to pop music and teen depression is that perhaps those with major depression seek solace and solitude in music are also more inclined towards major depression. One other possible angle from which to derive conclusions from the correlation between time spent listening to pop music and teen depression is that perhaps those with major depression seek solace and solitude in music.
In any case, there seems to be strong evidence that for adolescents there is a correlation between time spent listening to popular music and depression. This can provide encouragement for parents, educators and mental health professionals to help children and adolescents spend less time listening to popular music and more time reading.
Teenagers Listen to Music at Home and in School
Both parents and educators, that is teachers and administrators (school principals), should be aware of the implications of children, teenagers, or students spending too much time listening to music. Teachers and principals should adopt classroom and school policies that limit the accessibility to cell phones, which students use with headphones, to listen to music during the day.
High school students in many schools listen to music:
1. in the classroom during class (in the absence of strict policies by individual teachers or vaguely enforced school rules or policies)
2. after schoolwork or testing for a particular class is finished (some teachers allow students to plug in at those times)
3. in the hallways (when school policies or enforcement is inconsistent or not enforced)
4. in the bathroom, where some students hide out to listen to music
5. on the way to and returning from school by bus or walking, when some students plug in for their commute
In one middle school in Newark, NJ, surveyed students averaging 13 years of age listened to between 1 and 11 hours of music daily, with the average around 3 hours. About 5 of 22 students surveyed listened to between 8 and 11 hours of music daily.
Content of the message presented to teens in popular music is another issue that needs to be addressed by parents and educators, including teachers and principals.
Music with confusing and contradictory sexual messages or promotes self-hate or hostility towards others can contribute to these same emotions in teenagers as teens internalize these powerful musical communications from the self-seeking commercial world of music.
Rapper Nicki Minaj, for example, is extremely popular with teens, yet her no-limits public sexuality and other negative messages, some of which are noted above, are also embraced by youth who do not have enough life experience to decode fantasy from reality.
Access to pop music in numerous formats
1. on headsets via iPod or similar devices or cell phone with headphones
2. on cable or satellite music television programs such as MTV, VHF, or BET
3. some students keep the music television on to sleep or through the night while they sleep
4. some students listen to music on their cell phones before they go to sleep at night, staying up late
5. YouTube music videos
6. surfing the Internet
Excessive Time Listening to Music Affects Teens' Sleep Habits
One of the difficulties with listening to music at night and engaging in other electronic activities such as surfing the Internet, playing video games, watching television, or watching movies (parents may believe that their child is sleeping) is that kids often become inattentive in class; unable to concentrate or unable to do any serious schoolwork the following day.
Parents need to be aware of their child's sleeping habits in relation to electronics in the bedroom, and all parents should consider making the child or teen's bedroom free of electronics, including cell phones during the night.
Teenagers need at least eight hours sleep at night, but few teens actually sleep eight hours. In another middle school classroom in Newark, NJ with a predominantly Hispanic population, only four of approximately 24 students got eight hours of sleep a night, and the majority of students went to bed at 1:00 am, the others at midnight. The number one reason was use of various forms of electronics at night before sleeping (Samuels, J.).
Time Listening to Popular Music Can Contribute to Social Isolation
Social isolation can be one of the issues associated with too much time spent listening to pop music. This can be one factor contributing to depression among teenagers.
One of the other issues associated with excessive time listening to music is the social isolation it creates. The teens cannot fully connect with others, learn to converse intelligently, interact, and form meaningful relationships with others as a result of social isolation.
Even teenagers face a myriad of decisions in life, some of which will profoundly affect the rest of their lives. Plugged-in teens may find it difficult to find space in their brain to make balanced and intelligent decisions, overwhelmed as their minds are with constant stimulation, and confusing, often contradictory, messages from today's pop music.
Teenagers are caught up with the electronic age; parents, teachers, and administrators (principals) need to keep up.
References for Major Depression, Popular Music Link page
Primack, B., Silk, J., DeLozier, C., Shadel, W., Dillman Carpentier, F., Dahl, R., Switzer, G. (2011, April 4).
Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Determine Media Use by Individuals With and Without Major Depressive Disorder. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011;165(4):360-365.
Samuel, J. (2006-2015). Personal, educational, and psychological notes. AYCNP. https://aycnp.org/about_aycnp.php
Pages Related to Music Psychology
Adolescent Psychology
Music and Bipolar Disorder
Music Therapy
Music Psychology
Music History - The History and Psychology of Rock and Roll - and Jazz
Teen Depression and Music - Pop music and teen depression link - Based on clinical study
The Psychology of Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana and pop music for girls
Misogyny in Commercial/Pop and Rap Music
The gift of music
Children and teens who learn to play a musical instrument can be exposed to a wider variety of music than today's often decadent pop music. Learning to play a musical instrument is cognitively challenging and stimulating, and contributes to balance, as well as a healthy self-esteem among teens.
 
 
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