The impact of music festival attendance on young people’s psychological and social well-being
From Psychology of Music
The benefits of music are well known, but this article considers an area not well researched. The impact of music festivals on participants’ psychological and social well-being. Using qualitative surveys and focus groups from young festival goers, the study found four distinct facets of the experience – the music experience, the festival experience, the social experience and the separation experience. The findings of this study suggest that one of the most important functions performed by music festivals is to provide a time and space where young people can experience personal growth and self-discovery. Further research is needed into the ways music festival experiences can be tailored to optimize their positive outcomes.
