Self-reported mental health and mental illness among university music students in the United States

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the self-reported mental health state of US music majors. The participants (n = 252) completed a researcher-designed online survey, including questions regarding mental health literacy and the DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale). The survey also included three open-ended questions about mental health as music majors. We analyzed quantitative data using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and factor analysis; we coded and qualitatively analyzed open-ended responses. Results suggested that (a) a majority of music major participants in this study reported mild to extreme levels of depression, anxiety, and stress; (b) factor analysis of the Mental Health Literacy scale developed for this survey suggested a two-factor solution of mental health literacy, differentiated by locus of control; and (c) the heavy workload and curricular obligations, as well as the emotional connection to music-making and critique, contributed to self-reported challenges.