Objective: To examine psychological and social factors associated with risky MP3-player listening among Dutch adolescents, ages 12-19.

Design: Survey study.

Subjects and Setting: 1,512 Dutch adolescents, ages 12-19, attending 15 secondary schools in the Netherlands. Participation was voluntary (90% response rate) and conducted at school.  Participants completed questionnaire about their MH3-player listening habits and characteristics of their personality. 

Intervention(s): N/A

Outcome Measures: Risky MP3-player listening, defined as listening to an MP3-player via headphones for a least 1 hr. per day at > 89 dBA or the equivalent, adjusted for duration of listening (per report of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks).

Results: Adolescents who listened to MP3-players at risky levels were significantly more likely to experience feelings of reward upon listening, less likely to be motivated to protect themselves from high music volumes, and more likely to consider their MP3-player listening as a habit that was a natural part of their everyday lives.

Conclusion:  Dutch adolescents who listened to MP3-players at volumes and for durations harmful to their hearing experienced positive feelings from listening, were not motivated to protect themselves from high music volumes, and considered their listening as a habit that was a natural part of their lives. These results suggest that reducing risk listening behavior among adolescents will be difficult. © Center on Media and Child Healthreturn