How Does Music Really Impact Our Society

Isabella Mayse, Staff Writer

March 23, 2026

Studies have shown that Teenagers now listen to music significantly more than any other age group. About 82% of teenagers listen to music daily, raising the question of how it affects them. This can be emotional and mental, as well as physical. It is said that most teenagers use music to relate to situations they are dealing with, which can be beautiful. Still, often relatable music can worsen a negative headspace.

Music Working With Education

From an educational standpoint, it’s been proven that music can help organize thinking. It can stimulate brain regions involved in math, language, and complex thinking. Many teenagers have claimed that it’s not just lyrical music that has improved their thinking skills, but instrumental music as well. Classical music can be extremely stimulating to the brain and help with focus and concentration. Listening to Jazz music has also been shown to reduce stress and help students focus better. Stressful thinking can often harm a person’s ability to focus and stay on task. Keeping your mind on track is a skill many teenagers struggle with, not yet fully knowing how to compartmentalize their thoughts, so music can be a great way to help with that.

Mood Enhancement?

Regarding the mood-enhancing effects of music, it has been shown that it can release dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain. Dopamine increases pleasure and improves mood and is part of the brain’s reward system. Many say that fast-paced music or tempo creates a sense of motivation in a person. It can make people want to be productive. Classical music can also be proven to stimulate certain parts of the brain that battle ADHD. This can calm people who have trouble focusing and create a peaceful environment. Obviously, listening to fast-paced music with affirming lyrics will leave someone in a great mood, but what would happen if someone listened to the exact opposite? How could it affect someone’s mood and maybe even their lifestyle?

Emotional Risks

Sad music can sometimes have a stronger emotional pull than people realize. While it may feel comforting to hear lyrics that reflect personal struggles, constantly listening to downhearted songs can make negative feelings even stronger. Teenagers, in particular, can find themselves replaying thoughts of hopelessness as the music reinforces those emotions. Over time, this can make it harder to step out of a negative headspace, and relying on sad music as a coping mechanism might prevent someone from finding healthier ways to manage stressor improve their mood.

The Physical Aspect

Beyond the mind, music can have a big impact on the body. Listening to music can change your heart rate and blood pressure. There are even studies proven that prove it can affect your breathing patterns depending on the tempo and rhythm. Fast-paced music can make your heart beat a bit faster and give you a boost of energy, which is why people tend to listen to music while exercising. On the other hand, calmer music can help relax the muscles and reduce tension, making it easier to unwind. Sleep quality can also be improved with calmer, more relaxed music, which can help the body regulate more easily.

Music has a strong impact on our society and the teenagers who live in it, affecting their emotions, thinking, and daily lives. It can boost mood, focus, and motivation, but too much sad music can deepen negative feelings. Being mindful of what we listen to helps us enjoy music’s benefits while avoiding its potential downsides.

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About the Contributor

Isabella Mayse, Staff Writer

Isabella Mayse is a Senior at Santiago High School, and her favorite subject is English. She loves to spend her time in the ocean or exploring new coffee shops. Although this is her first year in journalism, she hopes to improve and grow her creativity and writing skills. Isabella has many passions, one being writing. She started to realize her love for writing in earlier grades and continued to show interest throughout high school. Although this is Isabella’s last year in high school, she wanted to experience journalism to improve her writing skills. She is also very passionate about ocean life and runs a club to organize beach clean-ups. She plans to use her writing skills to advocate for unsafe beach environments. Isabella has worked at an ice cream shop for about a year now to gain work experience and to observe an efficient and successful business. She plans to major in business to utilize the skills she has already learned. When she isn’t at work or school, she can be seen at the beach or finding new music. In the future, Isabella hopes to get a business degree while also utilizing her writing skills in her career. She hopes to be a part of a big company and make a positive impact in whatever she is pursuing. You can contact her at [email protected]