-
Consciousness and Cognition Apr 2022Math anxiety (MA) and working memory (WM) influence math performance. Yet the interplay between them is not fully understood. Inconsistent results possibly stem from the...
Math anxiety (MA) and working memory (WM) influence math performance. Yet the interplay between them is not fully understood. Inconsistent results possibly stem from the multicomponent structure of math performance and WM. Using network analysis approach, we investigated the drivers of the MA, WM and math performance edges, and the contribution of each node to the network. First, 116 women completed a battery of tests and questionnaires. Second, we explored the generalizability of our model by applying it to a new data-set (Skagerlund et al., 2019; conceptual replication). The results revealed: (1) the links between MA and WM depend on specific task properties, specifically, WM tasks that require manipulation of numbers; (2) WM and MA are independently linked to math performance; and (3) each WM task is associated with different math abilities. The study provides a strong and reliable model showing the direct effects of math anxiety on math performance.
Topics: Anxiety; Female; Humans; Mathematics; Memory, Short-Term
PubMed: 35217396
DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2022.103298 -
Journal of Voice : Official Journal of... Jun 2024To compare and correlate musical performance anxiety (MPA) and vocal self-perception among amateur evangelical singers, focusing on the interaction between anxiety and...
OBJECTIVE
To compare and correlate musical performance anxiety (MPA) and vocal self-perception among amateur evangelical singers, focusing on the interaction between anxiety and aspects of performance in this sample.
METHOD
This study employed a cross-sectional and quantitative approach, involving 75 amateur gospel singers from evangelical churches, aged between 18 and 59 years. Data collection included the administration of a sample identification and characterization questionnaire, the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI), and the Singing Voice Handicap Index (S-VHI). The descriptive analysis used absolute and relative frequencies, measures of central tendency, and dispersion (mean and standard deviation [SD]). To compare the vocal self-assessment protocols and performance aspects, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied. Spearman's correlation test was used for correlation analysis. All analyses were conducted with a significance level set at 5% (P < 0.05).
RESULTS
Vocal warm-up and cool-down activities, vocal discomfort after performance, and vocal self-assessment were significantly associated with scores on S-VHI, and the variable "instruments louder than voices" was associated with the K-MPAI score. Participants exhibited a mean K-MPAI score of 85.12 points (SD ± 36.6), and the vocal handicap of the sample had a mean score of 45.22 (SD ± 32.3). There was no statistically significant correlation between the protocols.
CONCLUSION
Incorporating vocal warm-up and cool-down activities was significantly associated with lower scores on S-VHI. Conversely, those experiencing postperformance vocal discomfort exhibited higher scores on S-VHI. Moreover, the absence of correlation between the assessment protocols suggests that while significant levels of voice handicap were observed, a direct link to MPA cannot be definitively established. Overall, these findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted factors shaping vocal health and performance among amateur evangelical singers, thereby guiding future research and interventions in this field.
PubMed: 38945728
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2024.05.021 -
The British Journal of Educational... Sep 2022When exposed to evaluative situations, up to 40% of students develop test anxiety, reflected, namely, by extensive worry, intrusive thoughts, and physiological arousal....
BACKGROUND
When exposed to evaluative situations, up to 40% of students develop test anxiety, reflected, namely, by extensive worry, intrusive thoughts, and physiological arousal. Though the negative influence of test anxiety on later school performance is well documented, the role of students' initial achievement in the development of later test anxiety is less clear.
AIMS AND SAMPLE
To better capture the nature of the relations between prior mathematics and language arts achievement and later test anxiety across genders, this study examined linear and curvilinear relationships among 1,569 French-speaking Canadian students followed across the transition to secondary school, a critical period for test anxiety.
METHODS
Students completed a questionnaire at the beginning and the end of the first year of secondary school, and schools provided us with students grades at the end of 6th grade and the fall of 7th grade.
RESULTS
Multilevel regression analyses showed that only mathematics achievement at the end of elementary school predicted test anxiety at the beginning of secondary school. In secondary school, beginning-of-year achievement in both mathematics and language arts predicted test anxiety at the end of this same year, but different patterns were observed for boys and girls.
CONCLUSIONS
Because nonlinear relations were observed at each timepoint, low achievers may not be the only group of students who are at greater risk of developing high levels of test anxiety. Therefore, interventions targeting students with different achievement profiles might help to reduce test anxiety and facilitate the transition to secondary school.
Topics: Achievement; Anxiety; Canada; Female; Humans; Male; Mathematics; Schools; Test Anxiety
PubMed: 35170029
DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12488 -
Alpha Psychiatry Jul 2021This study aimed to compare the anxiety and narcissism levels of different performance groups in female handball players.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to compare the anxiety and narcissism levels of different performance groups in female handball players.
METHODS
A total of 59 athletes between the ages of 15 and 37 participated in the study, taking the first 4 places from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus senior women handball 1st league in the 2017-2018 season. Wingate peak power (WPP), Wingate average power (WAP), handball agility test (HAST), 10 m speed (10S), 20 m speed (20S), 20m shuttle run (SR), hands on waist vertical jump (HEVJ), hands free vertical jumping (HFVJ) test, Beck anxiety scale (BAI), 5-factor narcissism scale-short form (FFNI-SF), and sociodemographic data form were used. The athletes were divided into upper performance (UPG) and lower performance groups (LPG) using the median value according to the results of the physical measurement tests (FST).
RESULTS
It was determined that the anxiety level of the participants in the LPG group was higher than that in the UPG group. The narcissism level of the participants in the UPG group was found to be higher than that in the LPG group. The scores of consent seeking, arrogance, leader/authority, insecurity, claiming rights, exhibitionism, carelessness, lack of empathy, and adventurousness were higher than LPG. In the correlation analysis, a positive and low level of relationship between anxiety and 20S and a negative and low level of significant relationship between HEJV were found. It was observed that there was a positive and low level significant relationship between narcissism and WPP, HFJV, and HEJV. It has been revealed that anxiety and narcissism variables have a predictive effect on the physical performance average score.
CONCLUSION
The findings suggest that in female handball players, high levels of narcissism may affect the performance positively and high anxiety levels negatively. As a result of this study, it was revealed that anxiety and narcissism have a predictive effect on physical performance average score in women's handball.
PubMed: 36424938
DOI: 10.5455/apd.116943 -
BioMed Research International 2020. Most performance theories were tested under controlled laboratory settings and offer therefore only limited transferability to real-life situations. E-sport...
UNLABELLED
. Most performance theories were tested under controlled laboratory settings and offer therefore only limited transferability to real-life situations. E-sport competitions offer a relatively controllable while at the same time competitive setting, and our aim was to examine different influencing factors on competitive performance. . Salivary cortisol was measured immediately before, after, and 30 minutes after a game of 23 computer players during e-sport tournaments. The players answered the Flow Short Scale, which consists of the two subdimensions "flow experience" and "anxiety" subsequent to their game. The performance was assessed by the result of each player's game (win or loss).
RESULTS
Mean cortisol levels increased significantly during the game but response patterns were inconsistent. Winners and losers differed significantly in anxiety with winners showing higher anxiety levels. After dividing the sample into three groups of different cortisol response patterns, significant differences in performance and anxiety were found, with low to moderate levels of cortisol being associated with the highest performance and anxiety.
CONCLUSIONS
A low to moderate physiological arousal and a simultaneously high level of anxiety represent a favorable state for achieving optimal performance during e-sports. Anxiety seems to exert a stronger influence on performance than physiological arousal.
Topics: Adult; Anxiety; Arousal; Competitive Behavior; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Saliva; Sports; Stress, Psychological; Young Adult
PubMed: 32076623
DOI: 10.1155/2020/9651245 -
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology Sep 2023According to the processing efficiency theory (PET), math anxiety would interfere with working memory resources, negatively affecting mathematical abilities. To date,...
According to the processing efficiency theory (PET), math anxiety would interfere with working memory resources, negatively affecting mathematical abilities. To date, few studies have explored how the interaction between math anxiety and working memory would affect different types of math tasks, especially in primary school children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore whether the interplay between math anxiety and working memory would influence performance in numerical operations (i.e., math fluency task) and mathematical reasoning (i.e., math reasoning task) in a group of primary school children (N = 202). Results showed that visuospatial working memory appeared to moderate the relationship between math anxiety and math performance when the math fluency task was considered, indicating that participants with higher levels of working memory were more negatively affected by math anxiety. No interaction effect was found for the math reasoning task in which students' scores were explained only by visuospatial working memory. The findings suggest that math anxiety and visuospatial working memory interact to influence performance in the math fluency task and that this effect may vary depending on the strategies used to complete the task. On the other hand, results on the math reasoning task showed that visuospatial working memory continues to have a positive effect on the math performance independently of math anxiety. The implications in the educational setting are discussed, pointing to the importance of monitoring and intervention studies on affective factors.
Topics: Child; Humans; Memory, Short-Term; Anxiety; Cognition; Problem Solving; Students
PubMed: 37156081
DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2023.105688 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2023Whilst the disruptive effects of anxiety on attention and performance have been well documented, the antecedents to anxiety in motivated performance scenarios are less...
INTRODUCTION
Whilst the disruptive effects of anxiety on attention and performance have been well documented, the antecedents to anxiety in motivated performance scenarios are less well understood. We therefore sought to understand the cognitive appraisals that mediate the relationship between pressurised performance situations and the onset of anxiety.
METHODS
We tested the effects of performance pressure and error feedback on appraisals of the probability and cost of failure, the experience of anxiety, and subsequent impacts on visual attention, movement kinematics, and task performance during a virtual reality interception task.
RESULTS
A series of linear mixed effects models indicated that failure feedback and situational pressure influenced appraisals of the probability and cost of failure, which subsequently predicted the onset of anxious states. We did not, however, observe downstream effects on performance and attention.
DISCUSSION
The findings support the predictions of Attentional Control Theory Sport, that (i) momentary errors lead to negative appraisals of the probability of future failure; and (ii) that appraisals of both the cost and probability of future failure are important predictors of anxiety. The results contribute to a better understanding of the precursors to anxiety and the feedback loops that may maintain anxious states.
PubMed: 37251048
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1182269 -
Mymensingh Medical Journal : MMJ Oct 2021Medical education is associated with a great psychological distress that affects many aspects of students' lives, including their academic performance and professional...
Medical education is associated with a great psychological distress that affects many aspects of students' lives, including their academic performance and professional development. The objective of the study was to determine the level of depression, anxiety and stress and their academic performance among fifth year medical students. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in Dhaka Medical College, Mymensingh Medical College, Anwar Khan Modern Medical College and Community Based Medical College of Bangladesh. For this purpose, 359 students were taken as sample and self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed by using short form DASS-21 BV score. The results showed that, the mean age of students was 22.74 years with female predominance 230(64.0%). Majority 319(88.9%) of the respondents' parents monthly income was ≤100000 taka and one third 126(35.1%) respondents' monthly study expenditure was in between 5001 to 10000 taka. Four fifth 317(88.0%) of the respondents came from nuclear type of family and two third 245(68.2%) lived in hostel. Half 178(50.0%) of the respondents were eldest in birth order. Majority 221(61.6%) of the students were admitted to medical college by their own motivation and interest. Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were present in 179(49.9%), 215(59.9%) and 161(44.8%) respectively. No significant association was found between academic performance with depression or anxiety or stress, except class attendance of Gynaecology and Obstetrics which was significantly associated with stress (p=0.016); the students who suffered from more stress, their class attendance were very poor. Students who reappeared in MBBS professional examination were significantly associated with depression (p=0.032) and stress (p=0.036). There was significant difference between students of public and private medical colleges in terms of anxiety (p=0.031) that is students of public medical colleges more suffered from depression, anxiety and stress in comparison to private medical colleges. Depression (p=0.001) and anxiety (p=0.010) were significantly associated with motivation to study MBBS. No significant difference of depression, anxiety or stress was found with sex difference. This study revealed that fifth year MBBS students suffered more from depression, anxiety and stress. The causes of depression, anxiety and stress should be identified and resolved to improve their mental health and academic performance.
Topics: Academic Performance; Adult; Anxiety; Bangladesh; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Pregnancy; Students, Medical; Young Adult
PubMed: 34605475
DOI: No ID Found -
Clinics in Sports Medicine Jan 2024Though research is inconclusive in being able to determine if young athletes are more or less likely to suffer from mental health disorders compared with their... (Review)
Review
Though research is inconclusive in being able to determine if young athletes are more or less likely to suffer from mental health disorders compared with their non-athlete peers, there are important psychological considerations that are unique to the athletic population. This includes depression in the context of overtraining and burnout, performance anxiety, perfectionism, psychological sequalae of concussion, and injury as an independent risk factor for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and high-risk behaviors. Optimization of mental health care in youth athletes requires continued efforts to improve mental health literacy, decrease stigma, encourage help-seeking behaviors, and advance the routine implementation of effective screening practices.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Mental Health; Athletes; Mental Disorders; Sports; Brain Concussion; Athletic Injuries
PubMed: 37949505
DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2023.06.003 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2023High heart rate (HR) and restlessness are two important features of music performance anxiety (MPA). In a case report of a cellist suffering from this condition, we...
BACKGROUND
High heart rate (HR) and restlessness are two important features of music performance anxiety (MPA). In a case report of a cellist suffering from this condition, we showed that HR and restlessness decreased after repeated live performances of the same musical excerpt, thereby positively modulating objective performance criteria and subjective components. Here, we largely replicate these results in a group of 18 string players reporting MPA.
METHODS
Objective measurement devices included a miniaturized electrocardiogram monitor and three 3-axis accelerometer loggers. Subjective measures included the Multidimensional Mental Health Questionnaire (MDBF) and a customized visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaire for MPA. Non-artistic performance errors were assessed by music experts using a composite score for technical playing errors (i.e., intonation errors, omission of notes, and bowing noise). Data were collected from each study participant during three brief public solo performances of the same musical excerpt, with each performance occurring before a new audience on the same day.
RESULTS
From the 1st to the 3rd performance, HR, VAS, and playing error scores decreased significantly. MDBF (RU scale) showed a significant increase in calmness from the 1st to the 3rd performance on stage. HR and RU, VAS, and RU, as well as bow acceleration and overall duration of playing correlated significantly across participants and performances.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
We conclude that repeated stage exposure significantly reduces HR as well as restlessness and playing errors linked to MPA. Public performances are still successful when HR is significantly higher than during rest periods. These results underscore the importance of stage training to become accustomed to realistic public self-exposure. Musicians - especially students - should consider this component of stage training as an integral part of their practice routine. Therefore, stage training can reduce MPA, promote better live performances and prevent stress-related mental disorders and physical injuries. These result from excessive self-exercise strategies common in musicians experiencing MPA. HR monitoring should be an integral part of evaluating the effectiveness of interventions for better MPA management and efficient performance training.
PubMed: 37020906
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1146405