Study Highlights Music Listening Patterns Among Young Adults with ADHD
A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology indicates that young adults who display symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to have a greater inclination towards listening to background music compared to their neurotypical counterparts, both during tasks that require significant cognitive effort and those that don’t. Moreover, these individuals often prefer more stimulating music, no matter the activity at hand.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, often starting in childhood and continuing into adulthood for many. Adults with ADHD, especially those who primarily experience inattention, may find it difficult to maintain focus, manage tasks, and stay organized. The disorder can also be linked to emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. While stimulant medications are commonly prescribed to help manage these symptoms, alternative methods—including the use of background music—have been explored to aid those facing attention challenges.
In this study, doctoral candidates Kelly-Ann Lachance and Pénélope Pelland-Goulet, alongside clinical neuropsychologist Nathalie Gosselin from the University of Montreal, aimed to discover how young adults engage with music in their daily lives, specifically looking for differences in listening habits between those with ADHD symptoms and neurotypical individuals.
The researchers noted, “We were curious about how young adults with and without ADHD use music during daily tasks, particularly those requiring more cognitive effort, given that past lab studies rarely consider real-world listening patterns.” This inquiry stemmed from a conversation Dr. Gosselin had years ago with a parent concerned about their child’s study habits and the influences of background music.
To conduct the research, an online survey was administered to 434 participants aged 17 to 30. Respondents shared their listening habits, musical preferences, and perceptions on the effects of background music on their cognitive and emotional functioning. The survey included a standardized ADHD symptom screening, which divided participants into two groups: those who screened positive for ADHD and those who did not.
Results showed that most young adults listen to music while engaging in both cognitively demanding activities—like studying and problem-solving—and simpler tasks like cleaning or working out. However, those in the ADHD group reported using background music more frequently during study sessions and exercise than their neurotypical peers. They also engaged with music more often while performing low-effort activities overall.
Notably, the researchers observed distinct patterns between the groups. “ADHD-screened participants not only listened to music more frequently while studying but also favored energizing music across various task types,” they noted. By contrast, individuals without ADHD tended to choose calming music for complex tasks, preferring more stimulating tracks when tackling easier ones. This suggests a difference in music’s role—not just as a casual accompaniment, but as a tool to meet their stimulation needs.
The researchers connected these findings to existing theories like the Moderate Brain Arousal model, which posits that individuals with ADHD often experience lower baseline levels of brain arousal and may leverage external stimuli, such as music, to achieve an optimal state for task engagement.
Stimulating music might activate the brain’s reward system, leading to dopamine release that helps counteract attention deficits, reducing mind-wandering during tasks. On the other hand, neurotypical individuals generally seem to prefer less stimulating music during concentrated work.
Furthermore, the researchers examined whether participants felt that background music enhanced their concentration or mood during tasks. They found two main dimensions in their subjective experiences—one being cognitive functioning and the other linked to emotional well-being. Most participants, regardless of group designation, indicated that music improved both concentration and mood.
Interestingly, despite their higher frequency of music listening, the ADHD-screened group did not report significantly greater benefits in emotional or cognitive functioning. “Our findings imply that young adults with ADHD symptoms generally listen to music more often in activities requiring focus, and they prefer stimulating music regardless of task type,” the researchers stated. They also highlighted that many participants believed music helped them maintain concentration and lifted their mood, suggesting it serves as a potential strategy for managing attention and emotions.
In conducting their analysis, the researchers controlled for factors like musical training and mood symptoms, yet notable differences in listening habits persisted. For example, even when accounting for emotional distress, ADHD-screened participants reported greater music usage during easy tasks, which hints at deeper motivations related to attention management rather than just emotional coping.
However, there are limitations worth considering. The study primarily utilized self-reported data, which could introduce bias. Additionally, participants’ ADHD status was determined through a screening tool rather than through clinical assessment, which might include individuals with milder symptoms.
Despite these drawbacks, the research contributes to a growing understanding of how music can influence attention and emotional regulation in everyday life. For individuals who face attention challenges, music might act as a flexible tool that helps ease boredom and boost performance.
Future research might build on these insights through controlled experiments or explore the impact of different types of music on cognitive and emotional states among individuals with ADHD. Longitudinal studies could also examine how music habits shift over time or how they interact with other coping strategies.
“In the short term, we’ve initiated a new survey aimed at a younger demographic (ages 12 to 17) to delve into their background music listening habits,” the researchers announced. “Long term, we hope to look into how specific characteristics of music—like tempo, lyrics, or familiarity—affect attention and emotion regulation in real-time,” they added. “Our findings resonate with what many may already intuitively grasp: music isn’t just background noise; it significantly influences how we manage our attention, mood, and motivation. Grasping these daily habits could inform more personalized approaches to enhance mental health and focus, especially for those exhibiting ADHD symptoms.”
The study, “Listening habits and subjective effects of background music in young adults with and without ADHD,” was conducted by Kelly-Ann Lachance, Pénélope Pelland-Goulet, and Nathalie Gosselin.
