How Music Creates Emotional Safe Spaces for Youth

This case study explores how young adults aged 18 to 25 use music as a private coping mechanism to create emotional safe spaces in their daily lives.

Drawing on qualitative data collected through semi-structured interviews with nine university students, the study investigates the role of music in emotional regulation, stress reduction, and mental well-being. Findings indicate that youth actively curate personalized playlists, use headphones to establish auditory boundaries, and engage in music listening routines that foster a sense of comfort, control, and psychological safety.

Music functions not only as entertainment but as an intimate and accessible form of self-directed emotional therapy. The study contributes to understanding non-clinical mental health strategies among youth and underscores the importance of recognizing music as a legitimate and valuable tool for emotional well-being.