Analysis of Music and Its Influence on Adult Lifestyle Choices and Behavioral Tendencies

Abstract

This thesis uses a secondary analysis to examine music and its influence on the behavior and lifestyle choices of adults. Data were obtained from the 1993 General Social Survey, in which information was collected from a national representative sample of 1,500 respondents. The research question poses whether the enjoyment of listening to certain genres of music was related to different lifestyle choices and behaviors of adults. The variables in the hypotheses include demographic, behavioral, cultural, and criminal justice related variables. The findings indicate that a variety of relationships exist between music and various lifestyle choices and behaviors of the participants. From the findings, one can see how a relationship did not exist between musical preference and gender, while a relationship did exist between musical preference and age, musical preference and attitudes over various criminal justice issues, and musical preference and certain behaviors/activities. Strengths and limitations of the thesis as well as suggestions for future research are also presented and discussed to conclude this thesis.