Music, Emotion, and Self-Control: Does Listening to Uplifting Music Replenish Self-Control Strength for Exercise?

The study investigated the effects of listening to self-selected uplifting music on positive emotional states and self-control. The participants (n = 72; M-age 22.26 +/- 5.97) performed two endurance handgrip squeezes separated by a varied set of experimental manipulations. In two conditions, participants performed a Stroop (self-control depletion) task and then either listened to self-selected uplifting music or rested quietly. Controls performed a reading task and then rested quietly. Listening to uplifting music evoked positive emotional states, F(2, 69) = 6.98, p =.002, partial eta(2) =.71; however, participants in both self-control depletion conditions performed worse than controls on the exercise task (p <=.07). Findings support the strength model of self-control but raise questions about the effects of positive emotional states on self-control.