Examining How Music Training is Associated with Self-Esteem and Emotional Intelligence among Adults

The present study examined the relationship between self-esteem and emotional intelligence among adults with formal or structured music training and compared scores between trained and untrained respondents. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional questionnaire design was used. Convenience sampling yielded 65 respondents: 44 (67.7%) reported music training and 21 (32.3%) reported no such training. Data were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire comprising three music-activity items, four self-esteem items and four emotional-intelligence items, each rated on a five-point Likert scale. Internal consistency was high for the three item sets (Cronbach's α = .939, .951 and .936, respectively). Spearman's rank-order correlation indicated a strong positive association between self-esteem and emotional intelligence in the trained group (ρ = .904, p < .001); a positive association was also observed in the untrained group (ρ = .747, p < .001). The trained group had higher mean self-esteem scores, but the difference was not statistically significant (17.86 versus 16.43; p = .114). Emotional-intelligence scores were significantly higher in the trained group (17.64 versus 15.19; p = .021). Because the study was observational, cross-sectional and based on self-report measures, the findings indicate associations and group differences rather than causal effects. The results support further investigation using larger samples, validated instruments and longitudinal designs.