Effect of music-listening on the enjoyment of physical activity experience
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (2006)Abstract
Research has suggested that listening to preferred music may be helpful in increasing exercise enjoyment, positive mood, and endurance enhancement. This survey research aimed to explore the reasons why people listen to their personal stereo while engaged in physical activity, and to understand the effect this has on their level of enjoyment. Three hundred and forty six students participated in this study via convenience sampling. Participants were divided into groups depending on their active usage of a personal stereo. The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) was administered as the instrument. An independent-samples t test comparing the PACES mean scores of the Non-Personal Stereo and the Personal Stereo groups found a significant difference between the two groups (t(322)= -5.338, p<.0005). Participants in the Personal Stereo group reported that they felt more energized, they enjoyed their experiences more, and that they preferred being in control of the music they listened to. Overall the results suggested that that listening to self-selected music can enhance individuals’ physical activity enjoyment.