EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON ASSERTIVE-BEHAVIOR DURING EXERCISE BY MIDDLE-SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS

The purpose of this study was to assess the association of a particula r style of music and assertive behavior in middle-school-aged students during exercise. Participants were students enrolled in a public midd le school (Grades 6, 7, and 8, N = 502). A statistically significant r elationship was found between the number of assertive behaviors occurr ing while listening to fast tempo music and grades and between differe nce scores and grades. Difference scores were obtained by subtracting the number of assertive behaviors occurring while listening to fast te mpo music from those while listening to slow tempo music. Discriminant function analysis showed the number of assertive behaviors when liste ning to fast tempo music, and difference scores were predictive of mem bership by grade. The higher the grade the more assertive behaviors we re emitted when listening to fast tempo music.