Healthy-Unhealthy Music Scale (HUMS)

Most people believe that music is a helpful part of their lives, but sometimes it’s
not. When you answer the questions below, please try to recall actual moments
when music has been helpful and when it has not.
Please read each statement and mark how much it applies to you. Mark only one
answer for each question.
Never Rarely Sometimes
Often Always
1. When I listen to music I get
stuck in bad memories ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
2.
I hide in my music because
nobody understands me, and it
blocks people out
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
3. Music helps me to relax ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
4.
When I try to use music to feel
better I actually end up feeling
worse
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
5. I feel happier after playing or
listening to music ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
6. Music gives me the energy to
get going ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
7.
I like to listen to songs over
and over even though it makes
me feel worse
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
8.
Music makes me feel bad
about who I am ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
9.
Music helps me to connect
with other people who are like
me
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
10. Music gives me an excuse not
to face up to the real world ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
11.
It can be hard to stop listening
to music that connects me to
bad memories
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
12. Music leads me to do things I
shouldn’t do ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
13.
When I’m feeling tense or tired
in my body music helps me to
relax
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Scoring instruction: HUMS Healthy: 3, 5, 6, 9, 13; HUMS Unhealthy: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10,
11, 12. Answers are scored on a scale from 1 (never) to 5 (always).
Complete the Healthy-Unhealthy Uses of Music Scale (HUMS). Write a reflective summary of your responses and comment on the health of your use of music (approx. 300 words. Include a photo/scan of
your HUMS as an appendix at the end of your assignment. Appendices are not included in your word count). Download the HUMS here (explained in Week 5 lecture): HUMS scale.pdf

Part 2: Explain how your use of music might impact your cognitive function. Draw on the research literature from both the “music and the brain” and “music in schools” lectures to support your
ideas. (approx. 700 words)

Part 3: Explain how your use of music might impact your emotions. Draw on the research literature from both the “music and emotions” and “music and adolescents” lectures to support your ideas.
(approx. 700 words)

Part 4: write a final reflection on how your uses of music might change across your lifespan, drawing on the research literature from any of the lectures this semester. (approx. 300 words)