Impact of Mindfulness-Based Psychoeducation Program on Performance Anxiety among Indian Classical Dancers

Abstract

Performance anxiety refers to the high levels of anxiety faced by performing artists, experienced psychologically, physiologically, or behaviorally, which reduces the quality of their performance and causes immense stress. Using various techniques of mindfulness, such as the body scan and psycho-education, to bring awareness to thoughts, beliefs, and emotions has been suggested in previous studies as an effective way to reduce performance anxiety. The purpose of this paper was to examine the impact of mindfulness-based psychoeducation on performance anxiety among female Indian Classical Dancers. Nine female Indian classical dancers aged 18-25 years were included in the study. All the participants filled out the Performance Anxiety Inventory (PAI), attended the mindfulness-based psychoeducation sessions, and after a week, filled out the PAI after the intervention. The findings of the study indicated statistically significant differences between the pre-intervention and post-intervention scores of the participants, indicating a reduction in the level of performance anxiety of the participants after the intervention.