Recommendations of the Editorial team
There is probably no genre of music that has as many studies as metal.
Most recently, we learned that listening to metal while driving (although playing some very good classical music) while driving is a bad idea. We also know, thanks to a survey, that some metal heads are more at risk of suicide than, for example, punk listeners and atheists who are more inclined to metal (and not the other way around, there has to be that much statistical precision).
Now, however, there is confirmation that listening to Slayer, Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Megadeth and Co. as a teenager can have positive benefits for later happiness in adulthood.
As Open Culture reports, researchers at Humboldt State, Ohio State, UC Riverside and UT Austin universities found that adolescents who played or listened to metal in the 1980s are now more balanced and happier than other people. A total of 377 people who were connected to metal music in the 1980s in whatever form were surveyed.
It is true that the teenage years of those surveyed were demonstrably riskier (self-harm, suicide attempts, a tendency to alcoholism or acts of violence were statistically more common). But are now more balanced than other middle-aged test groups. And also more relaxed than young people who are currently college age.
Metal study: What do we learn from it?
As has been shown in other cross-sectional studies, belonging to subcultures with strong connections makes it easier to find identity in adolescence. Sometimes the preference for metal is completely abandoned by the age of 30. It is not uncommon for metal fans to remain connected to the music of their youth for a lifetime.
Even more studies (not just about metal)
- Study finds sleeping pills: This music is the best way to fall asleep
- Study: Half of new guitar players are women
- Bizarre study: Ladybugs lose their appetite when listening to AC/DC
- Funny study: Going to a concert extends life by NINE years
- Study delivers disgusting result: germs on festival wristbands can cause food poisoning
- Study reveals: Justin Bieber is well received by psychopaths
- Study proves: Dads over 30 love Radiohead (and especially “Creep”)
And yet they go on cruises, live vegan lives and support demonstrations against negligent climate policies. Happy philistines.