Research on the Psychological Causes and Regulation Strategies of Stage Anxiety in Vocal Performance

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the psychological causes of stage anxiety, commonly referred to as Music Performance Anxiety (MPA), in vocal performers and evaluates the comparative effectiveness of multiple regulation strategies. The research aims to develop a comprehensive structural model of MPA causation and to provide evidence-based recommendations for intervention.
Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was employed with 326 vocal performers ranging from undergraduate students to professional artists. The study utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to identify causal pathways, physiological monitoring during live performances, a 12-week randomized controlled trial comparing 12 intervention strategies, cluster analysis for anxiety typology classification, and a 24-week longitudinal follow-up to assess sustainability of outcomes.
Findings: The SEM revealed that trait anxiety, low self-efficacy, perfectionism, and social evaluation fear are the primary psychological causes, operating through cognitive appraisal, physiological arousal, and attentional bias as mediating pathways, collectively explaining 68% of the variance in MPA severity. Cluster analysis identified four distinct anxiety typologies: Cognitive-Dominant, Somatic-Dominant, Adaptive-Low, and Mixed-Severe. The combined intervention (CBT + breathing + exposure therapy) produced the largest effect size (d = 1.15) and the lowest 12-month relapse rate (12%), significantly outperforming single-modality approaches.
Implications: The findings support a personalized, multi-modal approach to MPA management in vocal training. Educators and clinicians should assess individual anxiety profiles before selecting interventions, as different typologies respond differentially to specific strategies. The study contributes a novel typology-based framework for understanding and treating stage anxiety in vocal performance contexts.