COVID-19 pandemic: Does musicianship matter?

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Mental Health
• Music Industry Studies

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global mental health and the creative industries, including music.
• Understanding the interplay between personality, emotional regulation, and psychological distress is crucial, especially during crises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between personality traits, emotion regulation difficulties, and emotional problems (stress, depression, anxiety) among individuals in Türkiye during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To compare these relationships across three distinct groups: musicians, other artists, and individuals with no artistic engagement.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 542 participants (238 musicians, 97 artists, 207 non-artists).
• Utilized validated instruments: Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-Brief Form (DERS-16), and Basic Personality Traits Inventory.
• Employed statistical analyses to examine relationships and group differences.

Main Results:

• Difficulties in emotion regulation showed a positive association with stress, depression, and anxiety across all participant groups.
• The relationship patterns between personality traits and outcome measures were similar for musicians and non-artists.
• Emotional regulation difficulties demonstrated consistent relationships with personality traits across all three groups.
• No significant group differences were found in emotional problems or regulation, except for extraversion and openness personality traits.

Conclusions:

• Difficulties in emotion regulation are a key factor contributing to psychological distress in musicians, artists, and non-artists during the pandemic.
• Psychological interventions should focus on improving emotion regulation skills to mitigate emotional problems in these populations.
• Professional identity as a musician did not confer unique resilience or vulnerability regarding emotional regulation or psychological distress during the pandemic.