| Performance anxiety is a serious problem among many professional and amateur performers that leads to impaired performance or even an avoidance of performance. Extensive research on performance anxiety related to athletes exists, but minimal research has been conducted related to other performers, such as musicians. Comparisons of performance anxiety among musicians and athletes maybe useful in helping clinical psychologists and other professionals in the music field promote mental health in musicians. The first goal in the study was to investigate performance anxiety among musicians, represented by opera singers, in comparison to that of athletes, represented by mixed martial artists. It was hypothesized that no difference would exist between the two groups on measures of negative cognition and physiological responses. Participants (N = 65) completed the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), consisting of three subscales: (a) cognitive anxiety, (b) somatic anxiety, and (c) self- confidence. The results were that no significant difference existed between the two groups in regard to responses to performance anxiety (a confirmation of the hypothesis). The self-confidence subscale was the most significant predictor of the quality of operatic performance and mixed martial arts competition, t (60) = 3.76, p < .05. The second goal in the study was to investigate psychological effects of performance anxiety. It was hypothesized that participants would report greater negative influence from psychological distortions than from negative relationships and doubts about artistic competence as responses to performance anxiety. Participants (N = 65) completed a researcher-created instrument, designed from an extensive review of performance anxiety theories and consisting of three subscales: (a) psychological distortions, (b) negative relationships, and (c) doubts about artistic competence. Data on participants' psychological responses to performance anxiety was analyzed. No significant differences were found in the psychological responses to performance anxiety between the two groups. Additionally, it was determined that the researcher-created instrument was inconsistent in determining a true effect. Therefore, it is recommended that clinicians and researchers who specialize in Sports Psychology and Performing Arts Psychology should develop further assessment tools to be used in improving our understanding of the relationship between negative cognition and performance. |
