Music Performance Anxiety in

College Music Majors:

Gender differences in physiological markers of psychological stress
Melissa

1
Leider ,

Liza

1
Inaba ,

Hannah

2
Chappell-Dick , Greta Ann

2
Herin , Catherine

3
Franssen ,

David Stringham1

1. James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA), 2. Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, VA) 3. Longwood University (Farmville, VA)

INTRODUCTION

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The problem: Music performance anxiety (MPA),

a persistent anxious apprehension related to
musical performance (Kenny, 2010), can be
debilitating and prevent the advancement of
talented and well-trained musicians through career
development from K-12 through the professional
ranks.

Fig. 1: Salivary cortisol is raised before high-stakes

recitals.

Hypothesis and Transdisciplinary approach: A

team comprised of students representing music
education and biology as well as faculty from
music, biology, and neuroscience investigated the
relationship between perceived, self-reported
performance anxiety and observed physiological
stress response in music majors preparing for and
performing a high-stakes degree recital.
Pilot Study (2014): Purpose was to explore above
hypothesis; results narrowed our focus in the
current study to examine gender differences
Hormones measured: Cortisol (as a measure of
stress), DHEA (as a measure of resiliency)

Cortisol levels (g/dL)

0.3

Female

0.25

5
4

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

Strongly
Disagree

Visualization

Recital

Figure 2: Preliminary results suggest gender

differences in DHEA levels.
400

Male
Female

350
300
250

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly
Agree

Participant responded to the statement, Nerves tend to negatively affect my performances. This figure is
consistent with results from Study I in which males also reported lower performance anxiety than females.

CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to our hypothesis that a visualization prompt will raise
cortisol levels, the visualization actually seemed to lower cortisol
levels.
Cortisol shows a different pre-performance pattern of MPA than DHEA
in college-aged males versus females: cortisol seems to increase for
both males and females from baseline to recital while DHEA increases
only for males.
There is a relationship between salivary stress hormone levels and
perceived MPA.

200
150

Baseline

Visualization

Recital

The pattern of DHEA levels at each of the three collections differs between males and females (male DHEA
increases at visualization while female DHEA decreases).
Two-tailed T Test; Error bars represent the standard error of the mean

Figure 3: Cortisol/DHEA ratios differ from

visualization to recital, but only in males.
30

Cortisol/DHEA ratio (pg/mL)

Male
Female

In salivary samples obtained 30 minutes before recitals, cortisol levels were higher than in those taken exactly
one week prior, +/- 1 hour, to the performance in resting positions.
Two-tailed T Test; Error bars represent the standard error of the mean

METHODS
33 participants: Music majors from four regional
universities which varied in size, mission, and
musical curriculum
- Ages 20 32
- Range of instruments and concentrations
within the major (e.g. education, performance)
Three Measurements:
- Control (5-9 days prior, exactly +/- 1 hour
from scheduled recital time to control for
diurnal variations in cortisol levels)
- Post-visualization (15 minutes after a
visualization designed to mimic MPA)
- Recital (30 minutes prior to start time)
Collection: Passive Drool Technique (ELISA kits
from Salimetrics and self-report MPA
questionnaire
Visualization: Intended to put participants into
mind frame of performing to see if salivary
cortisol/DHEA levels would be affected; based on
Trier Social Stress Test

Male

Baseline

DHEA levels (pg/mL)

Gap in the literature: While researchers have

studied performance anxiety in younger musicians
(Boucher & Ryan, 2010) and professional
musicians (Papageorgi, Creech, & Welch, 2013),
there have been few data collected from musicians
at the collegiate level.

0.35

Fig. 4: Males report less performance anxiety than

females.

Male

25

Female

College-aged males and females react to music performance anxiety

differently.

FUTURE RESEARCH QUESTIONS

20

15
10

What changes could be made to visualization procedure to make more effective?

How does previous performance experience affect Cortisol/DHEA ratio?
How do applied studio teachers influence performance anxiety?
Do students applied teachers experience anxiety around their students
performances?
Is there a relationship between perceived and/or physiological performance anxiety
and the quality of the recital performance?
Do musicians perceptions of their performances differ based on concentration,
instrument, or other personal factors?
Can you control DHEA?

REFERENCES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Boucher, H., & Ryan, C. A. (2011). Performance Stress and the Very Young
Musician. Journal of Research in Music Education, (4). 329.

We wish to thank
- JMU School of Music and JMU
- College of Visual and Performing Arts
for their generous support of this
research
- The lab of Dr. Franssen for analyzing
results
- Dr. Daniel Showalter for initial
statistical consultation
- Kayla Cosner, Drew Diaz, Keelan
Muscara, Kara Thibodeau, and
Jonathan Wilson for collection of data.

Papageorgi, I., Creech, A., & Welch, G. (2013). Perceived Performance Anxiety
Advanced Musicians Specializing in Different Musical Genres. Psychology Of
Music, 41(1), 18-41.

Osborne, M. & Kenny, D. (2008). The role of sensitizing experiences in music

performance anxiety in adolescent musicians. Psychology Of Music, 36(4), 447-462.

Baseline

Visualization

Recital

While males demonstrate MPA through rises in their cortisol levels, their increases in DHEA helped them to
regulate their stress.
Two-tailed T Test; Error bars represent the standard error of the mean

Zalta, A. K., & Chambless, D. L. (2012). Understanding Gender Differences in

Anxiety: The Mediating Effects of Instrumentality and Mastery. Psychology Of
Women Quarterly, 36(4), 488-499.

Questions? Please email me at leidermr@dukes.jmu.edu