Musical performance anxiety: perceived causes, coping strategies and clinical profile of Brazilian and Australian musicians

Author(s)

Ana Beatriz Burin

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2018-02-02

Examining board members

Flavia de Lima Osorio; Marcos Hortes Nisihara Chagas; João Gabriel Marques Fonseca; Maria Yuka de Almeida Prado

• Advisor: Flavia de Lima Osorio

Abstract

Musical performance anxiety (MPA) is a subtype of social anxiety disorder characterised by the presence of fear related to musical performance, which can cause impairment in the musician\'s personal and professional life. Symptoms range from the normal stress sensations of the profession to the most intense and harmful anxiety symptoms. The literature suggests that the etiology of MPA involves physiological and psychological aspects. The knowledge of other aspects, such as how MPA causes are perceived by musicians, coping strategies and cultural variables seem important for a detailed view of MPA. The main objective of this project was to describe the clinical profile, prevalence, perceived causes and coping strategy of MPA in a sample of Brazilian classical (GCB) and popular musicians (GPB) and compare them with a sample of Australian professional musicians (GMA). Several instruments of self evaluation were used in a sample of 214 Brazilian musicians (GCB = 114, GPB = 100) and 376 Australian musicians. The data referring to the Brazilian sample were analyzed by means of a specific statistical program, according to the following variables: musical training, presence / absence of MPA and gender. Comparative analysis were performed between Brazilian classical musicians and Australian musicians. The significance level was set at p <0.05. The results indicate that 38.8% of the Brazilian sample presented APM indicators and there was no significant difference of psychiatric indicators between GCB and GPB groups, except for social subscale of anxiety sensitivity wich mean score was higher for GCP. When comparing GCB and GMA, higher indices were observed in trait anxiety, MPA and depression in GCB, whereas GMA showed higher anxiety sensitivity indicators. The musicians with MPA presented a more compromised profile in the psychiatric indicators. In relation to sex, women had higher indices of sensitivity to anxiety and depression. Regarding the perceived causes of anxiety, regardless of the musical condition, sex and presence/absence of MPA, the most frequently pointed out by the musicians were self-pressure, difficult repertoire, uncertainties caused by technical failures and concern with evaluation of the audience. When compared in terms of musical training, presence / absence of MPA and country of origin, the GCB, musicians with MPA and the GMA identify with greater frequency and statistical significance a greater number of situations perceived as causing anxiety. The most perceived causes are internal to the musician. Regarding coping strategies, there was a similarity in the most used, independent of musical training, presence / absence of MPA, gender and country of origin. The most used were to breathe deeply, to increase training, to familiarize oneself with performance set and to use relaxation techniques, and the most used ones were also effective according to musicians. There is predominance of internal strategies of the musicians themselves and low demand for external resources such as health professionals. The MPA affects both Brazilian and Australian musicians. The perceived causes are generally associated with musicians\' internal variables who face this condition with their own resources, with a low demand for professionals who could offer more effective interventions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/00097-0 - Music Performance Anxiety: Perceived Causes, coping strategies and clinical profile of brasilian and australian musicians
• Grantee: Ana Beatriz Burin Saraiva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master