Physical, Behavioral and Cognitive Characteristics of Perceived Performance Anxiety in Music Students: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the physical, behavioral and cognitive characteristics of perceived performance anxiety in music students. A qualitative researchmethod was used for this purpose. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews alongwith video recordings. The anxiety and pre-performance preparation levels of students weregraded based on their statements. A total number of 17 (12 women and 5 men) universitystudents of the department of music constituted the participants of this research. Data weregathered before displaying a solo musical instrument performance in front of a jury. To this aim,an intentional, criterion sampling method was employed. Content analysis was carried out toanalyze the data. Based on the literature on performance anxiety and social anxiety, the physical,behavioral and cognitive components of anxiety were used as the basic themes in the contentanalysis. In the classification on the cognitive characteristics, the sub-headings of themselves,others in social situations and previous experiences (exams) were used based on Clark and Wells’(1995) study (cited in Clark, 2001). According to the research findings, students, who statedthat they experienced more anxiety before performance, experienced physical and behavioralstress reactions more intensely. Regarding the cognitive characteristics, relationships were seenbetween the self characteristic and anxieties such as perceived efficacy, negative opinions aboutpersonality, negative thought, fear of disfavor, and perfectionism. In terms of others, it wasobserved that the lecturers’ negative perceptions and comments, and the perception of the examas a past experience were related to anxiety. The findings of the study were discussed in relationto the literature on performance and social anxiety.