Clarke Laura K, Osborne Margaret S, Baranoff John A
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Front Psychol. 2020 May 29;11:1127. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01127. eCollection 2020.
Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a distressing and persistent anxious apprehension related to musical performance. The experience of MPA forces many musicians to give up performing or develop maladaptive coping mechanisms (e.g., avoidance or substance use), which can impact their career and wellbeing. High levels of MPA in students and vocalists are reported in the literature. Vocalists present a unique challenge for clinicians in that vocal and breathing mechanisms, required for performance, are negatively impacted when anxious. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of a range of psychological problems including social anxiety disorder (of which MPA may be indicated as a subtype). This study sought to investigate whether group-based ACT may be a feasible and effective intervention for MPA in Australian student vocalists and aimed to design an intervention that could be adopted by music education providers. Potential participants ( = 31) completed an online survey including demographic questions and outcome measures. Six vocal students (four females; two males; aged = 20.33 years) with elevated MPA scores participated in the ACT for MPA group program and 3-month follow-up. Group sessions were 2 h each week for six consecutive weeks. Participants were followed up 3 months post-intervention via online survey. There was a significant increase in psychological flexibility and significant decreases in MPA and psychological inflexibility. Gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up. The current study offers preliminary evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of a group-based ACT protocol for musicians with performance anxiety which may be incorporated into tertiary performance training curricula.
音乐表演焦虑（MPA）是一种与音乐表演相关的痛苦且持续的焦虑性担忧。MPA的体验迫使许多音乐家放弃表演或形成适应不良的应对机制（例如，回避或使用药物），这可能会影响他们的职业和幸福感。文献报道了学生和声乐家中高水平的MPA。声乐家给临床医生带来了独特的挑战，因为表演所需的发声和呼吸机制在焦虑时会受到负面影响。接纳与承诺疗法（ACT）已被证明对治疗一系列心理问题有效，包括社交焦虑障碍（MPA可能被视为其中一种亚型）。本研究旨在调查基于团体的ACT对澳大利亚学生声乐家的MPA是否可能是一种可行且有效的干预措施，并旨在设计一种可供音乐教育提供者采用的干预措施。潜在参与者（n = 31）完成了一项在线调查，包括人口统计学问题和结果测量。六名MPA得分较高的声乐学生（四名女性；两名男性；年龄 = 20.33岁）参加了针对MPA的ACT团体项目和为期3个月的随访。团体课程每周一次，每次2小时，连续六周。干预后3个月通过在线调查对参与者进行随访。心理灵活性显著提高，MPA和心理僵化程度显著降低。这些改善在3个月的随访中得以维持。本研究为基于团体的ACT方案对患有表演焦虑的音乐家的可行性和有效性提供了初步证据，该方案可纳入高等表演训练课程。
