Musical performance anxiety as a form of social anxiety?

The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between social anxiety and musical performance anxiety (MPA). Previous literature has reported mixed results concerning correlations between social anxiety and MPA. To better describe overlapping and unique features in comparison with social anxiety disorder may introduce new options for treatment. The aim of the current study was to explore if performance anxiety only, or also the fear of social interaction, predicts MPA and if there are additional predictors beyond social anxiety. One hundred and forty-two music students and professional musicians participated in the study. In addition to questionnaire measures of MPA and social anxiety, we assessed perfectionism, self-focused attention, and absorption as possible predictors. Social anxiety correlated highly with MPA. In a regression analysis only the subscale performance anxiety, not fear of social interaction, predicted MPA. Moreover, social anxiety only partially predicted MPA; perfectionism and public self-focus significantly increased the explained variance. We conclude that social anxiety and MPA are strongly related but are also unique in many ways.