Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives and Music Reward Experiences

Music is a source of pleasure for many people, but also can serve as a source of meaning in life. The present study examined whether music reward experiences (MREs; e.g., flow experiences, social experiences, relaxation) are associated with general hedonic and eudaimonic motives for general activities (HEMAs; e.g., seeking enjoyment vs. seeking to do what one believes in). In addition, their interplay with subjective stress (e.g., demands) was examined. Because longitudinal evidence on interindividual differences in MRE is scarce, the present study focused on cross-sectional associations and changes over time. This longitudinal study was conducted in Germany in three waves (with intervals of approximately one year) with an initial sample of 431 adults aged 25–75 years. The cross-sectional results showed that MRE correlated with both facets of HEMA. The association between eudaimonic motives and stress was stronger for individuals with high degrees of MRE. The longitudinal effects were computed with latent growth models and showed that increases in eudaimonic motives for activities (slopes) were predicted by high degrees of MRE (intercepts). Increases in hedonic motives (slopes) were associated with changes in eudaimonic motives (slopes). The findings also revealed high degrees of stability in HEMA and MRE.