Teens Who Choose Music Over Books Are More Likely to Be Depressed, Study Finds - Page 2

CazMar · 04-05-2011, 08:06 PM

Surely it would depend on the type of music and also the general interest in music? Some of my younger musician friends are always listening to music, but I would say they are anything but depressed.
Listening to depressing and "dark" music is more likely a symptom of depression, not the cause and as Worldwalker says, a depressed person probably finds it difficult to concentrate on reading. As a pointer to indicate someone who is suffering from this condition it should probably be regarded as one of many symptoms - poor sleeping, irritability, spending a lot of time alone. Stopping someone listening to music might do more harm than good and articles like this should be careful that their effect is simply to provide ammunition for those who try to demonise pop music.

gmw · 04-06-2011, 03:57 AM

"There is no dark side in the moon, really. As a matter of fact it's all dark."

JeremyR · 04-06-2011, 05:08 AM

I would be depressed, too, if I were a teen today. Their music is just so lame and boring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

The music lovers just need to listen to more ABBA and less Kurt Cobain.

Er, Kurt Cobain is what kids listened to 20 years ago...

Today it's all hipster/emo stuff which is like updated versions of Perry Como, bland and tasteless

kennyc · 04-06-2011, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

I would be depressed, too, if I were a teen today. Their music is just so lame and boring.

Er, Kurt Cobain is what kids listened to 20 years ago...

Today it's all hipster/emo stuff which is like updated versions of Perry Como, bland and tasteless

Uh not the boomin' rap krap. Tasteless, yeah, but certainly not bland.

Sweetpea · 04-06-2011, 06:07 AM

I do think the title could be true.

If you listen to music, your imagination isn't really activated. If you read a book, it is. So, if you listen to music, you might be more prone to chew on (non)existing problems over and over and over again. While, if you read a book, you're transported away from your life and thus cannot dwell over its problems.

AlexSno · 04-06-2011, 06:42 AM

Well i don't think this to be true. I am a person that loves both a good book and listening to music (also i'm that type of dude who if the sound is OK will listen regardless of genre).
Not every kid that listens to music has suicidal things inside his ""depressed" brain...

Nyssa · 04-06-2011, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I do think the title could be true.

If you listen to music, your imagination isn't really activated. If you read a book, it is. So, if you listen to music, you might be more prone to chew on (non)existing problems over and over and over again. While, if you read a book, you're transported away from your life and thus cannot dwell over its problems.

I highly disagree! The fact that ones imagination is engaged, is what helps the enjoyment of the music. Yes, people can multitask, but they're not "brain dead" otherwise. Plus why would you assume their problems are non-existent, are you in their heads? What a dismissive attitude.

fjtorres · 04-06-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

Er, Kurt Cobain is what kids listened to 20 years ago...

And Abba *30* years ago. (hint!)

(I know, if you need to explain the joke it's not a good joke...)

kennyc · 04-06-2011, 08:04 AM

Whaaaaa????

luqmaninbmore · 04-06-2011, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

I would be depressed, too, if I were a teen today. Their music is just so lame and boring.

Er, Kurt Cobain is what kids listened to 20 years ago...

Today it's all hipster/emo stuff which is like updated versions of Perry Como, bland and tasteless

Obviously not someone who listens to MIA.

queentess · 04-06-2011, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyR

I would be depressed, too, if I were a teen today. Their music is just so lame and boring.

Er, Kurt Cobain is what kids listened to 20 years ago...

Today it's all hipster/emo stuff which is like updated versions of Perry Como, bland and tasteless

Classic rock (and the likes of Cobain) saw a brief resurgence due to Rock Band and Guitar Hero. Hipster/emo stuff...? Alt rock (and of course pop) is all the rage.

I had an ABBA phase in college... stumbled onto them because several of their songs were covered by E-Rotic on some DDR mixes.

mr ploppy · 04-06-2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

ScienceDaily (Apr. 4, 2011) — Adolescents who spend more time listening to music are far more likely to have major depressive disorder, while young people who spend more time reading books are far less likely to have such a diagnosis, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study published in the April edition of the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine...

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0404161817.htm

That sounds like one of those surveys that says taking drugs makes your hair grow long because they've noticed a lot of long haired people take drugs.

mr ploppy · 04-06-2011, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

One symptom of major depression is ceasing to enjoy things that one normally enjoys. In other words, if you normally like reading, depression will make you not particularly enjoy it or want to do it. However, music is easy. No effort required.

I went off music as well, didn't listen to anything for years. Just watched the news on endless loop. But I'm the sort of person that sits down and listens to music, I don't just have it on as background wallpaper.

Anthem · 04-06-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

You should be a therapist.

Oh, I have thought about it!

David71 · 04-06-2011, 09:25 PM

I have been very much into music and books for as long as I can remember. I have always been an active listener when it comes to music and it is as engaging to me as any book I have ever read. The fact that I write and play music certainly has something to do with that, but even before I could play an instrument music was never background to me.

Both reading books and listening to music have always brought me great pleasure and they will bring me out of a bad mood. Of course, I've never suffered from depression so I really can't personally comment on the premise of the article. It seems to me that music is a quicker fix in that it could reinforce a depressed mood more easily than a book could. It's more of a visceral experience for most people, especially teens. As always, IMO.

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04-05-2011, 08:06 PM	#16
CazMar Book Geek Posts: 596 Karma: 1499085 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Adelaide, Australia Device: Kobo Touch, Asus MemPad 7" tablet, Nexus 5, Asus 10" tablet	Surely it would depend on the type of music and also the general interest in music? Some of my younger musician friends are always listening to music, but I would say they are anything but depressed. Listening to depressing and "dark" music is more likely a symptom of depression, not the cause and as Worldwalker says, a depressed person probably finds it difficult to concentrate on reading. As a pointer to indicate someone who is suffering from this condition it should probably be regarded as one of many symptoms - poor sleeping, irritability, spending a lot of time alone. Stopping someone listening to music might do more harm than good and articles like this should be careful that their effect is simply to provide ammunition for those who try to demonise pop music.

04-06-2011, 03:57 AM	#17
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	"There is no dark side in the moon, really. As a matter of fact it's all dark."

04-06-2011, 06:07 AM	#20
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I do think the title could be true. If you listen to music, your imagination isn't really activated. If you read a book, it is. So, if you listen to music, you might be more prone to chew on (non)existing problems over and over and over again. While, if you read a book, you're transported away from your life and thus cannot dwell over its problems.

04-06-2011, 06:42 AM	#21
AlexSno Connoisseur Posts: 74 Karma: 330 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: none	Well i don't think this to be true. I am a person that loves both a good book and listening to music (also i'm that type of dude who if the sound is OK will listen regardless of genre). Not every kid that listens to music has suicidal things inside his ""depressed" brain...

04-06-2011, 08:04 AM	#24
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Whaaaaa????

04-06-2011, 09:25 PM	#30
David71 Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 12 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ashland, AL Device: Kindle Touch	I have been very much into music and books for as long as I can remember. I have always been an active listener when it comes to music and it is as engaging to me as any book I have ever read. The fact that I write and play music certainly has something to do with that, but even before I could play an instrument music was never background to me. Both reading books and listening to music have always brought me great pleasure and they will bring me out of a bad mood. Of course, I've never suffered from depression so I really can't personally comment on the premise of the article. It seems to me that music is a quicker fix in that it could reinforce a depressed mood more easily than a book could. It's more of a visceral experience for most people, especially teens. As always, IMO.

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