Mental Health Implications of (Mal-)Adaptive Approaches to Leisure Music Engagement: The Role of Motivation and Self-Criticism

Background/Objective: The relationship of music engagement with health and well-being has gained increasing academic interest over the past decades, pointing to mostly beneficial associations. However, recent research indicates a more complex relationship emphasizing the relevance of exploring how and why people engage with music. This study therefore aimed to investigate a) the association between self-determined motivation for leisure music engagement and mental health, and b) the role of self-criticism as a potential underlying mechanism. Method: 198 hobby musicians completed an online surv