Effects of Psychological Interventions on Performance Anxiety in Performing Artists and Athletes: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Marc Niering; Teresa Monsberger; Johanna Seifert; Thomas Muehlbauer

doi:10.3390/bs13110910

Effects of Psychological Interventions on Performance Anxiety in Performing Artists and Athletes: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Behav Sci (Basel). 2023 Nov 7;13(11):910. doi: 10.3390/bs13110910.

Authors

Marc Niering¹, Teresa Monsberger², Johanna Seifert^{1

3}, Thomas Muehlbauer⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Biomechanics and Neurosciences, Nordic Science, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
² Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical School Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
⁴ Division of Movement and Training Sciences/Biomechanics of Sport, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany.

Abstract

Levels of state and trait anxiety are relevant for performing artists and professional athletes to obtain optimal performance outcomes. However, evidence-based knowledge regarding the effectiveness of psychological interventions on performance anxiety is currently minimal. Thus, the objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to characterize, aggregate, and quantify intervention effects on measures of state and trait performance anxiety in performing artists and professional athletes. A systematic search of the literature according to the PRISMA guidelines was conducted on the databases PubMed, Medline, SPORTDiscus, PsycInfo, Embase, and Web of Science from 1 January 1960 to 9 November 2022. The search only included controlled studies employing pre-post measures and excluded performing arts fields that do not depend on fine motor skills. Initially, 1022 articles were identified; after removing duplicates and assessing abstracts and full texts, 20 articles were used to calculate weighted standardized mean differences (SMDs). In terms of state performance anxiety, our results revealed a large overall effect (SMD = 0.88), a medium effect (SMD = 0.62) for studies using scales with total scores (i.e., MPAI-A, STAI), and large effects (cognitive anxiety: SMD = 0.93, somatic anxiety: SMD = 0.92, self-confidence: SMD = 0.97) for studies applying scales with sub-scores (i.e., CSAI-2R)-all in favour of the intervention groups. Regarding trait performance anxiety (e.g., SCAT), we detected a small effect (SMD = 0.32), also favouring the intervention groups. Interventions to reduce performance anxiety in performing artists and professional athletes revealed varying levels of effectiveness ranging from small (trait) to large (state). Therefore, future studies should investigate modalities to increase intervention efficacy, especially for the small-sized changes in trait performance anxiety.

Keywords: performing arts; professional sports; psychological interventions; state performance anxiety; trait performance anxiety.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

We acknowledge support by the Open Access Publication Fund of the University of Duisburg-Essen. Neither the Open Access Publication Fund of the University of Duisburg-Essen nor any of its employees were involved in the design of the study, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, or in writing the manuscript.