The impact of professional music performance competence on performance anxiety: the mediating role of psychological risk and moderating role of psychological resilience

Abstract

Introduction: Music performance anxiety (MPA) significantly impacts musicians’ wellbeing and career development, yet the complex interplay between professional competence, psychological risk, and resilience in MPA formation remains understudied. Methods: This research investigated these mechanisms through a moderated mediation model among 609 music major students (70.9% female; M age = 20.96 years, SD = 4.52). Participants completed a comprehensive assessment battery including the Professional Questionnaire for Musicians (PQM), Psychological Risk Questionnaire for Musicians (PRQM), Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS macro (Model 7). Results: Analysis revealed significant negative correlations between professional competence and both performance anxiety (r = −0.252, p < 0.01) and psychological risk (r = −0.448, p < 0.01). Psychological risk significantly mediated the relationship between professional competence and performance anxiety (indirect effect = −0.171, 95% CI [−0.243, −0.099]). Notably, psychological resilience moderated this indirect effect (moderation effect = 0.188, 95% CI [0.092, 0.284]), with the relationship being strongest at low resilience levels (β = −0.881, p < 0.001) and weakest at high resilience levels (β = −0.693, p < 0.001). Discussion: These findings validate a complex mechanism wherein professional competence influences performance anxiety through psychological risk, with psychological resilience serving as a crucial moderating factor. The results emphasize the importance of developing multidimensional intervention strategies and provide empirically-grounded guidance for music education practice, suggesting that enhancing both professional competence and psychological resilience may effectively reduce performance anxiety through the mitigation of psychological risk.