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Stage fright: its experience as a problem and coping with it

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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose and method

This questionnaire survey of 190 university music students assessed negative feelings of music performance anxiety (MPA) before performing, the experience of stage fright as a problem, and how closely they are associated with each other. The study further investigated whether the experience of stage fright as a problem and negative feelings of MPA predict the coping behavior of the music students. Rarely addressed coping issues were assessed, i.e., self-perceived effectiveness of different coping strategies, knowledge of possible risks and acceptance of substance-based coping strategies, and need for more support.

Results

The results show that one-third of the students experienced stage fright as a problem and that this was only moderately correlated with negative feelings of MPA. The experience of stage fright as a problem significantly predicted the frequency of use and the acceptance of medication as a coping strategy. Breathing exercises and self-control techniques were rated as effective as medication. Finally, students expressed a strong need to receive more support (65%) and more information (84%) concerning stage fright.

Conclusion

Stage fright was experienced as a problem and perceived as having negative career consequences by a considerable percentage of the surveyed students. In addition to a desire for more help and support, the students expressed an openness and willingness to seriously discuss and address the topic of stage fright. This provides a necessary and promising basis for optimal career preparation and, hence, an opportunity to prevent occupational problems in professional musicians.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the Swiss National Science Foundation, which funded the present study (subsides No. 100013–112520), and to the Swiss University Centre for Music Physiology for the kind support. The authors wish to thank the music universities, Julia Maillefer, and Christa Flückiger for their precious help in the development of the questionnaire and the assistance in gathering the research data. Furthermore, we would like to thank Dr. Pascal Wild for his precious help with the statistical analyses.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut universitaire romand de Santé au Travail, Institute for Work and Health, Rue du Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Regina Studer, Patrick Gomez, Marc Arial & Brigitta Danuser

  2. Swiss University Centre for Music Physiology, Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich, Switzerland

    Horst Hildebrandt

Authors
  1. Regina Studer
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  2. Patrick Gomez
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  3. Horst Hildebrandt
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  4. Marc Arial
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  5. Brigitta Danuser
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Regina Studer or Patrick Gomez.

Additional information

Institute for Work and Health affiliated to both the University of Lausanne and the University of Geneva.

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Studer, R., Gomez, P., Hildebrandt, H. et al. Stage fright: its experience as a problem and coping with it. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 84, 761–771 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0608-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-010-0608-1

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