Intelligent Music Generation: Reducing Anxiety in High School Students

This study explores the efficacy of AI-generated music compared to traditional pop music in alleviating anxiety among high school students from a Chinese international school and an American high school. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to assess the impacts of music interventions before and after exposure. Initial findings indicated that both groups experienced significant reductions in anxiety, as measured by the GAD-7 scale, with AI-generated music showing a greater decrease. The quantitative results revealed that after a four-week intervention, students listening to AI music exhibited a marked improvement in anxiety levels with the Chinese international school students' scores dropping from an average of 13.33 to 6.06, and the American students' scores from 14.02 to 7.28. In contrast, those who listened to pop music also showed improvements but to a lesser extent. Qualitative interviews further highlighted the personalized experience of AI music, enhancing its effectiveness in reducing stress compared to the broader appeal of pop music which was linked more to cultural resonance and social connectivity. The interaction effects analyzed through mixed linear models and F-tests showed statistically significant differences in the impact of music types across cultures. This study underscores the potential of personalized AI-driven music interventions in mental health strategies tailored for diverse cultural contexts, suggesting a paradigm shift towards more customized therapeutic approaches in global mental health education.