title: Stage fright: its experience as a problem and coping with it.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Institut universitaire romand de Santé au Travail, Institute for Work and Health, Rue du Bugnon 21, Lausanne, Switzerland. regina.studer@hospvd.ch
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Studer
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hildebrandt
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arial
authors.forename: Brigitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Danuser
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D060805:Performance Anxiety / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult