CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE Does Listening to Hip Hop Music Decrease Stress Levels Amongst Transitional Age Youth of Color? A graduate project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Social Work By Erika Jacome May 2017 The graduate project of Erika Jacome is approved: _______________________________________ __________ Dr. Allen Lipscomb Date _______________________________________ ___________ Dr. Eli Bartle Date _______________________________________ ___________ Dr. Jodi Brown, Chair Date California State University, Northridge ii Acknowledgement I would like to thank California State University, Northridge/ Tseng College for its continuous support throughout my journey in obtaining a Master of Social Work. The program has not only provided an opportunity for educational and career growth, but an opportunity for self growth and encouragement. A special thanks to Dr. Allen Lipscomb and Dr. Jodi Brown for inspiring and believing that there is no goal that cannot be met. Their professionalism, guidance, consistency, and reliability have inspired me to reach for the stars and never give up. I would also like to give a special thanks to those youth who have inspired me to believe that there is no bigger sense of pride than to believe in someone, even if they don’t believe in themselves. Their kind words, hope, and faith will live throughout my career. Lastly, to those loved family members, friends, and esteemed colleagues whose patience, commitment, and encouragement will not be forgotten. Thank you all for your kind support! iii Table of Contents Signature Page ii Acknowledgment iii Abstract v Introduction 1 Method 8 Findings 13 Discussion 15 References 18 Appendix A: Flyer 21 Appendix B: PSS Pre-Test Stress Scale 22 Appendix C: PSS Post-Test Stress Scale 23 Appendix D: Music Playlist 24 Appendix E: Consent Form 26 iv Abstract Does Listening to Hip-Hop Music Decrease Stress Levels Amongst Transitional Age Youth of Color? By Erika Jacome Master of Social Work Purpose: To explore the utilization of hip-hop music as a tool to relieve stress amongst transitional age youth (TAY) of color between the ages of 18-25. Youth who fall into the category “transitional age youth” were identified to have a history of being in the foster care or juvenile justice system at some point during their lives. The research was a quantitative study focusing on hip-hop music as a strength-based tool which can be utilized by transitional age youth of color who express feeling high stress levels in their everyday lives. Methods: The researcher utilized snowball sampling from a social media post to recruit participants. The study lasted a total of 5 days where Days 1 and 5 consisted of administering a 10-question pre and post-test that measured perceived stress in the week before the intervention and in the week during the intervention. During Days 2, 3, and 4, participants listened to hip-hop music (intervention) as their only source of music. Results: The results indicated that listening to hip-hop music during participants’ most stressful weekdays decreases their stress levels significantly. Discussion: The findings in this study were congruent with the literature on the benefits that music has as a stress coping tool. Furthermore, utilizing one of the most popular genres of music (hip- hop) amongst today’s youth was found to be both beneficial and appealing to transitional v age youth of color. More specifically, using hip-hop music in a strength-based perspective allowed transitional age youth of color to use a new coping tool. vi Introduction Music is an essential part of human life and is both versatile as well as universal. It is used as a form of human expression and is often designed to interpret a thought, feeling, or tell a story in a form in which people can relate. Music has and will continuously evolve currently reaching to more than 1,200 different genres (Linnemann, Ditzen, Strahler, Doerr, & Nater, 2015). As young adults experience a variety of situational dilemmas in their young adulthood, they seek music that understands and is easily relatable to them. Different genres such as Hip-Hop and Rap are popular amongst young adults because the content is often very real to the life experiences young adults have. The current research study explored the effects that listening to Hip-Hop music has on stress levels of transitional age youth of color. “Transitional age youth of color” are categorized as youth of color who have a history of being in the foster care or juvenile justice system. The objective of the study was to obtain a better understanding of Hip- Hop music as it relates to relieving/alleviating stress levels amongst transitional age youth of color. Specifically, the study sought to answer the question: Does listening to hip-hop reduce stress levels amongst transitional age youth of color? Since the existing research already suggests that there is a relationship between music and stress, the researcher took a closer look at the effects it may have on transitional age youth of color since there is minimal research studying the relationship that music has on stress levels of this vulnerable population. 1 Literature Review Transitional Age Youth Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) are individuals between the ages of 16 – 25, who at some point in their lives, have been in either the foster care or the juvenile justice system. TAY are transitioning from adolescence into young adulthood. Since these youths are transitioning from adolescence into young adulthood, they often have distinct needs and are often faced with challenges or changes, which they are often unprepared for. TAY are not just transitioning from foster care, but are also youth who are in transition from state custody (Juvenile Justice System) and are considered “at-risk”. Once they turn 18 they can no longer receive assistance from the systems of care that previously provided for many of their needs. This complex population is expected to make complex decisions about their lives in regards to personal relationships, employment, health care, housing, education and finances (Pecora et al., 2006). However, TAY have limited resources and struggle with issues such as substance abuse disorders, homelessness, aging out of the children’s mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice systems, or experiencing their first episode of major mental illness (Pecora et al., 2006). Youth transitioning out of foster care and state custody experience multiple risk factors and difficulties including: school failure, employment, obtaining medical care, housing, homelessness, violence, teen parenthood, and high rates of involvement with the criminal justice system (Montgomery, Donkoh, & Underhill, 2006). Such risk factors and difficulties cause high levels of anxiety and stress amongst TAY (Montgomery et al., 2006). 2 Due to limited resources, it is often difficult for both foster youth and youth in the juvenile justice system to receive services that will meet their mental health needs and this difficulty contributes to high levels of stress (Jamieson & Mendes, 2016). Often, when those youth are able to find services, they tend to be short- term due to many factors such as not enough agency funds, the youth moving constantly, and termination of services by youth themselves (Jamieson et al., 2016). Stress Stress is defined as “the result produced when a structure, system, or organism is acted on by forces that disrupt equilibrium or produce strain” (Thomas, 1997, p. 2249). Stress will automatically send signals to the body, which will then begin to prepare for a physical threat. When encountered with stress, the body responds rapidly by releasing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. At this point, the body will go into the “fight or flight” response, which releases hormones that provide an extra boost of strength and endurance by raising heart rate, blood pressure and metabolic rate to prepare the body for optimal performance (Clements-Cortes, 2011). Most modern day stressors do not require such a dramatic response, but the same hormones are nevertheless released into the body as a natural reaction. The long-term presence of these hormones can permanently damage health by altering physiological processes (Radziewicz, 2001). An online Stress in America Survey conducted by Harris Interactives found that the majority of adult Americans are living with moderate to severe stress levels caused by various extraneous factors in their daily lives (American Psychological Association, 2010). The survey consisted of adults over the age of 19 and was broken down into four generations 3 including Millennial (19-31-year-olds); Generation X (32-45-year-olds); Boomers (46-64 year-olds); and Matures (65 years and older). Stress amongst youth of color Youth of color are identified as those of racial and ethnic minorities, immigrant youth, and biracial youth (Haddock, & Falkner., 2014). Youth of color often face a variety of internal and external challenges that often times have to do with social needs and cultural heritage. As young people are in search of their personal identities, society often responds negatively to any social dimensions outside of what is deemed normal within the mainstream culture (Haddock et al., 2014). Furthermore, youth of color have a difficult time adjusting to the demands and expectations of society as well as their cultural demands and expectations (Haddock, & Falkner, 2014). Youth of color are also more vulnerable to social, emotional, and academic problems, which in turn increase the chances of developing anxiety as well as increasing levels of stress (Rasmussen, Aber, & Bhana, 2004). Other factors that cause stress amongst youth of color are employment concerns, poor race relations, violence and a lack of community resources. More so, stress is also associated with youth of color feeling unsafe in their communities and a high number of youth of color report feeling mistrust of the police due to racial profiling and discrimination (Rasmussen et al., 2004).