Open Access

ARTICLE

Exploring the Framework of Online Music Use for Motivation of Studies and Gratification Needs for Students’ Well-Being

Muhammad Ali Malik¹, Koo Ah Choo^1,2, Hawa Rahmat^3,*, Elyna Amir Sharji^1,2, Teoh Sian Hoon⁴, Sabariah Eni⁵, Lim Kok Yoong⁶

1 Faculty of Creative Multimedia, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, 63100, Malaysia
2 Centre for Interaction and Experience Design, CoE of Immersive Experience, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, 63100, Malaysia
3 Learning Institute for Empowerment, Multimedia University, Melaka, 75450, Malaysia
4 Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Bandar Puncak Alam, 42300, Malaysia
5 Faculty of Technology Management and Business, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat, 86400, Malaysia
6 School of Communication & Design, Saigon South Campus, RMIT University, Ho Chi Minh, 700000, Vietnam

* Corresponding Author: Hawa Rahmat. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mental Health Promotion in Higher Education: Interventions and Strategies for the Psychological Well-being of Teachers and Students)

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2026, 28(1), 10 https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073109

Received 11 September 2025; Accepted 08 December 2025; Issue published 28 January 2026

Abstract

Background: Music has proven to be vital in enhancing resilience and promoting well-being. Previously, the impact of music in sports environments was solely investigated, while this paper applies it to study environments, standing out as pioneering research. The study consists of a systematic development of a conceptual framework based on theories of Uses and Gratification Expectancy (UGE) and perceived motivation based on music elements. Their components are observed variables influencing students’ psychological well-being (as the dependent variable). Resilience is examined as a mediator, influencing the relationships of both observed and dependent variables. The main purpose of this study is to highlight the positive effects of online music consumption on the psychological well-being of students. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with eighteen final year creative multimedia undergraduate students belonging to five central region Malaysian universities, especially on their UGE needs, and a similar concept survey instrument with two hundred participants. The interview data were analysed through thematic analysis, while the survey data through descriptive and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results: The results highlight that students gain motivation from online music, which positively affects their psychological well-being (β= 0.190, p= 0.003, f² = 0.037), while resilience significantly affects this relationship (β = 0.562, p < 0.001, f² = 0.461). However, the results also predict a partial relationship between constructs based on UGE with psychological well-being, mediated by resilience, i.e., AT-UGE (β = 0.021, p = 0.783, f² = 0.000), SIPI-UGE (β = 0.228, p = 0.004, f² = 0.044). Conclusion: The outcome of the study reflected practical, meaningful, and statistically significant results. The majority of the predictors, with the exception of one, i.e., AT-UGE, displayed a clear positive relation of online music consumption on the Psychological Well-being of students. Future research will explore varying contextual factors impacting online music-related gratifications, motivations, and resilience, along with additional potential mediators and moderators.

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Keywords

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