From a study by Reinhardt, U and Lange, E:
The effects of the performance of various forms of music and an acoustic non-musical comparative stimulus on the condition and efficiency of depressive persons were studied. These persons react in the mot uniform manner to the performance of Vienna waltzes and slow phrases of piano concertos by Mozart, partly with considerable improvements of their condition and increase in efficiency while contrary reactions were produced by other forms of music. Persons suffering from depressive defect schizophrenia with reduced drive showed positive effects after waltz music and folksongs. The results are encouraging to include suitable music under group therapeutic conditions in the complex psychiatric therapy rehabilitation strategy.
“Wine, Women and Song”, of course, is the name a beautiful Viennese Waltz by Johann Strauss, Jr. With current research in emotion and mood spreading out into so many different directions, it’s hard to know where to look to find studies to support the idea that thinking positively can influence mood; however, I find it difficult to listen to this waltz and not feel the better for it. Since this research is just in its infancy, the outcomes of such studies are unreliable at best, but it might be worth your while to track your mood over time as you listen to different kinds of music, and observe whether your music does influence your mood, and how.