Kj. Took et Ds. Weiss, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEAVY-METAL AND RAP MUSIC AND ADOLESCENT TURMOIL - REAL OR ARTIFACT, Adolescence, 29(115), 1994, pp. 613-621
Adolescents and their parents were surveyed to investigate the associa
tion between heavy metal and rap music and adolescent psychosocial tur
moil. Subjects were asked about current and past psychosocial function
ing, as well as their music preferences. Adolescents who preferred hea
vy metal and rap music were compared with those who preferred other ty
pes of music. Results indicated that adolescents who preferred heavy m
etal and rap had a higher incidence of below-average school grades, sc
hool behavior problems, sexual activity, drug and alcohol use, and arr
ests. However, when gender was controlled, only below-average current
and elementary school grades and a history of counseling in elementary
school for school problems remained significant. Implications of thes
e findings are discussed.