Music performance anxiety and self-compassion in college-level music majors

Music performance anxiety (MPA) can result in negative mental health outcomes in musicians and can range from minor stress to significant physiological symptoms that affect performance. Self-compassion is a construct used to measure, improve, and understand mental health and well-being without the potentially negative psychological outcomes that result from preserving high self-esteem. With a growing need for understanding the mental health of college-level musicians, this study examined the relationship between levels of self-compassion and MPA. Data were collected using the Self-Compassion Scale and the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Index and were analyzed for correlational and predictive potential. The data suggested a strong inverse relationship between the two constructs; people who reported higher levels of self-compassion reported a lower incidence of MPA. The self-compassion component of self-kindness was found to be a unique predictor of MPA. The demonstrated relationship between self-compassion and MPA implies promise for interventions focusing on positive self-talk and self-kindness as a means to help musicians cope with experiences of MPA.