Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory: Contribution for the Portuguese Validation.

Pedro Dias,Sofia Serra,Lurdes Veríssimo,Patrícia Oliveira-Silva,Daniela Coimbra,Nânci Figueiredo

doi:10.3390/bs12020018

Abstract

(1) Background: The aim of the present study was to contribute to the validation of the Portuguese version of the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI) and to study its psychometric properties. (2) Methods: A sample of 164 undergraduate music students in Portugal (62.2% female; mean age = 22.63; SD = 4.36) completed an online survey composed of the K-MPAI Portuguese version, the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The K-MPAI psychometric properties were examined using exploratory factor analyses, known-group differences, and Cronbach’s alpha. (3) Results: A four-factor structure was identified, in line with recent validation of this measure in other countries: music performance anxiety-related symptoms, depression and hopelessness, parental support, and memory self-efficacy. Concurrent and known-group validity were established, and reliability scores were appropriate for the dimensions and total score. (4) Conclusions: The results provide initial evidence of the appropriateness of the Portuguese version of the K-MPAI.

Highlights

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is defined as the experience of feeling anxious and apprehensive about one’s music performance skills in a severe and persistent way in a music performance context when this distress is not justified by the individual’s ability and level of preparation
For the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI) translation and validation procedures to Portuguese, the criteria proposed by the International Test Commission [25] were followed: a bilingual expert performed a process of translation and a different expert performed a blind back-translation from the original K-MPAI version to achieve linguistic equivalence; the research team reached an agreement about the best version of the instrument in terms of comprehension, conceptualisation, content, semantics, and culture
The final structure proposed for the instrument is composed of the following factors: Factor 1—MPA-related symptoms; Factor 2—depression and hopelessness; Factor 3—parental support; and Factor 4—memory self-efficacy

Summary

Introduction

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is defined as the experience of feeling anxious and apprehensive about one’s music performance skills in a severe and persistent way in a music performance context when this distress is not justified by the individual’s ability and level of preparation. It is frequently associated with a setting where there is a high investment, an evaluation situation, and a consequent possibility of failure [1]. There are different degrees of severity, and musicians suffering from MPA often display emotional (e.g., anxious apprehension towards a performance), cognitive (e.g., focused attention on fear), somatic (e.g., increased heart rate or shaking hands), and behavioural symptoms (e.g., avoiding auditions, solos, and rehearsals) [1]

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