Relationship between Music preference, Personality and Self-esteem among College Students

Abstract

Throughout history, people have used music to express their inner feelings, whether they are happy or sad. This connection becomes even more intriguing when examined in the context of personality traits because a person's musical preferences often reflect their individual temperament and character. Furthermore, as music may be a useful instrument for identity development, emotional wellness, and empowerment, its impact on self-esteem raises the dynamic link even further. The aim of this paper was to see the relationship between Music preference, Personality and self-esteem among students. A convenient sample of 134 individuals was used in this study who were between the ages of 18 and 25, the participant were college students from Delhi and Delhi NCR. Pearson’s correlation analysis was done to determine the relationship between Music preference, personality traits and self-esteem among students. Data collected from a sample of college students revealed mixed results. While, no significant correlation was found between extraversion and energetic rhythmic music, a negative correlation emerged between agreeableness and intense rebellious music. No significant association was observed between consciousness and intense rebellious music. However, a significant positive correlation was found between neuroticism and reflective complex music, as well as between openness to experience and upbeat conventional music, supporting the corresponding hypotheses. Furthermore, the study uncovered a significant positive relationship between self-esteem. These findings provide valuable insights into the nuanced interplay between personality traits, music preferences, and self-esteem among young adults, offering implications for understanding the psychological dynamics underlying music consumption and its impact on individual well-being.