“Help! I Need Somebody”: Music as a Global Resource for Obtaining Wellbeing Goals in Times of Crisis

Music can reduce stress and anxiety, enhance positive mood, facilitate social bonding. However, little is known about the role of music related personal or cultural (individualistic vs. collectivistic) variables in maintaining wellbeing during times isolation as imposed by COVID-19 crisis. In an online questionnaire, administered 11 countries (Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, UK, USA, N = 5,619), participants rated relevance goals pandemic, effectiveness different activities obtaining these goals. was found to be most effective activity for three out five goals: enjoyment, venting negative emotions, self-connection. For diversion, equally good entertainment, while it second best create a sense togetherness, after socialization. This result evident across gender, with minor effects age on specific goals, clear effect importance people's lives. Cultural were generally small surfaced mainly use obtain togetherness. Interestingly, culture moderated negatively valenced nostalgic those higher distress.