Exploring the Relations among Psychological Flexibility, Music Performance Anxiety, and Perceived Performance Quality with University Music Students

Abstract

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a “third wave” behavioral therapy that aims to increase psychological flexibility through mindfulness, acceptance, and behavioral commitment processes. This study explored relations among facets of psychological flexibility, music performance anxiety (MPA), and perceived performance quality to better understand the utility of ACT-based interventions for musicians. Twenty-seven university music students participated in the study, which involved performing a one-to-three-minute prepared musical excerpt of their choice in a mock audition and then completing the study measure, which included the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI) of Rolffs et al., the Performance Anxiety Inventory (PAI) of Nagel et al., and the Performance vs. Practice Scale (a measure of perceived music performance quality adapted from the work of Farnsworth-Grodd). The results revealed a significant positive relationship between participants’ psychological flexibility and their perceived performance quality ( r(25) = .391, p = .022); and a significant inverse relationship between psychological flexibility and MPA ( r(25) = −.498, p = .004). One facet of psychological flexibility, cognitive defusion, emerged as a significant predictor of both perceived performance quality and MPA. The findings build on existing evidence demonstrating the suitability of ACT as both a treatment for MPA and a method of performance enhancement for musicians. Additionally, the results provide support for emphasizing cognitive defusion processes within an ACT-for-MPA treatment approach. The study holds particular significance for the population of interest, university music students, who commonly seek specific skills and strategies for enhancing performance outcomes and managing the effects of MPA.