Exploring the Framework of Online Music Use for Motivation of Studies and Gratification Needs for Students’ Well-Being

Background: Music has proven to be vital in enhancing resilience and promoting well-being. Previously, the impact of music in sports environments was solely investigated, while this paper applies it to study environments, standing out as pioneering research. The study consists of a systematic development of a conceptual framework based on theories of Uses and Gratification Expectancy (UGE) and perceived motivation based on music elements. Their components are observed variables influencing students’ psychological well-being (as the dependent variable). Resilience is examined as a mediator, influencing the relationships of both observed and dependent variables. The main purpose of this study is to highlight the positive effects of online music consumption on the psychological well-being of students. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eighteen final year creative multimedia undergraduate students belonging to five central region Malaysian universities, especially on their UGE needs, and a similar concept survey instrument with two hundred participants. The interview data were analysed through thematic analysis, while the survey data through descriptive and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results: The results highlight that students gain motivation from online music, which positively affects their psychological well-being (β= 0.190, p= 0.003, f2 = 0.037), while resilience significantly affects this relationship (β = 0.562, p < 0.001, f2 = 0.461). However, the results also predict a partial relationship between constructs based on UGE with psychological well-being, mediated by resilience, i.e., AT-UGE (β = 0.021, p = 0.783, f2 = 0.000), SIPI-UGE (β = 0.228, p = 0.004, f2 = 0.044). Conclusion: The outcome of the study reflected practical, meaningful, and statistically significant results. The majority of the predictors, with the exception of one, i.e., AT-UGE, displayed a clear positive relation of online music consumption on the Psychological Well-being of students. Future research will explore varying contextual factors impacting online music-related gratifications, motivations, and resilience, along with additional potential mediators and moderators.