TY  - EJOU
AU  - Malik, Muhammad Ali 
AU  - Choo, Koo Ah 
AU  - Rahmat, Hawa 
AU  - Sharji, Elyna Amir 
AU  - Hoon, Teoh Sian 
AU  - Eni, Sabariah 
AU  - Yoong, Lim Kok 

TI  - Exploring the Framework of Online Music Use for Motivation of Studies and Gratification Needs for Students’ Well-Being
T2  - International Journal of Mental Health Promotion

PY  - 2026
VL  - 28
IS  - 1
SN  - 2049-8543

AB  - <b>Background:</b> 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. <b>Methods:</b> 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). <b>Results:</b> The results highlight that students gain motivation from online music, which positively affects their psychological well-being (β= 0.190, <i>p</i>= 0.003, f<sup>2</sup> = 0.037), while resilience significantly affects this relationship (β = 0.562, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, f<sup>2</sup> = 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, <i>p</i> = 0.783, f<sup>2</sup> = 0.000), SIPI-UGE (β = 0.228, <i>p</i> = 0.004, f<sup>2</sup> = 0.044). <b>Conclusion:</b> 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.
KW  - Online music; uses and gratification expectancy; perceived motivation; resilience; well-being

DO  - 10.32604/ijmhp.2025.073109