Music-based emotion regulation and healthy and unhealthy music use predict coping strategies in adults with substance use disorder: A cross-sectional study

While many people use music for emotion regulation, there is a dearth of empirical inquiry investigating if music-based self-regulatory factors correlate with and predict coping in adults with substance use disorder (SUD). The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore music-based emotion regulation, healthy and unhealthy music use, and coping strategies in adults with SUD on a detoxification unit via correlational and multiple regression analyses. Participants ( N = 194) completed the Brief Music in Mood Regulation Scale, the Healthy-Unhealthy Music Scale, and the Brief COPE. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine which music-based emotion regulation factors were related to and predicted coping. There were a plethora of significant relationships between music-based factors and coping. Regression results indicated that solace predicted acceptance and entertainment predicted venting. Healthy music use predicted active coping and humor, while unhealthy music use predicted venting, denial, behavioral disengagement, and self-blame. Generally, unhealthy music use predicted maladaptive coping while healthy music use predicted adaptive coping. As music use is common for people with SUD, it seems that music-based emotion regulation training may have the possibility to augment adaptive coping skills with the ultimate goal of increasing the likelihood of recovery.