Acceptance and commitment coaching for music performance anxiety in adolescent singers

Area of Science:

• Music Education
• Adolescent Psychology
• Performance Psychology

Background:

• Adolescence, particularly during puberty, is a critical period for developing social anxiety and performance anxiety (MPA) in singers.
• Voice changes and identity development during puberty can exacerbate anxiety, leading to potential dropout from singing activities.
• There is a need for effective coping strategies and coaching frameworks for adolescent singers to navigate these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Coaching (ACC) as an intervention for MPA in adolescent singers.
• To develop a coaching framework for singing teachers to support students through pubertal changes.
• To explore adolescent singers' experiences with ACC in managing performance anxiety.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving adolescent singers experiencing MPA.
• Utilized semi-structured participant interviews and questionnaires to gather data.
• Employed Acceptance and Commitment Coaching (ACC) as the intervention.

Main Results:

• Participants showed changes in perception of MPA symptoms and arousal, leading to altered behavior and reactions.
• Coaching facilitated self-discovery, understanding of new concepts, and release of old habits.
• Singers shifted focus from perfection to pursuing values, accepting themselves, and learning from mistakes.

Conclusions:

• ACC is a promising intervention for MPA in adolescent singers during puberty.
• The study provides the first investigation into ACC for MPA in this demographic, delivered by a singing teacher.
• ACC helps adolescent singers cope with anxiety, promoting continued engagement in singing through developmental changes.