The relationship between uses of music, musical taste, age, and life goals

Abstract

Musical taste and uses of music correlate with age, although there has been little theoretical explanation of these relationships. The present research argues that musical behavior may be explained by chronological age and variations in life goals across the lifespan, and investigated the relationship between life goals, age, musical taste, and uses of music using an exploratory mixed-methods approach. In Phase 1, thematic analysis of responses from 27 adults aged 65+ years allowed development of an improved “Uses of Music” questionnaire for use with adults of all ages. In Phase 2, 799 Australian adults aged 18–81 years completed three questionnaires, namely Uses of Music (amended), Short Test of Music Preference—Revised, and the GOALS Importance Subscale. Chronological age correlated with life goals; and chronological age, life goals, and musical taste predicted using music for each of social reasons, mood regulation, reminiscence, and activities. Future research on music should not regard age as simply a chronological variable, and instead acknowledge that it implies several life goals which themselves relate to musical taste and uses of music in different ways.