A latent profile analysis of music performance anxiety among pre-service music teachers: associations with adaptive-maladaptive perfectionism and control-value beliefs

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a type of commonly experienced emotion during music performance, and pre-service music teachers may experience more intense MPA than musicians due to their lack of confidence and inadequate performance skills. To date, however, no research has investigated whether there is group heterogeneity for pre-service music teachers’ MPA and whether it is associated with adaptive-maladaptive perfectionism, control (expectancy of success and self-efficacy) and value (enjoyment and interest) beliefs. To fill the research gap, this research intends to identify profiles based on adaptive-maladaptive perfectionism, expectancy of success, self-efficacy, enjoyment, and interest, and further investigate their relationship with MPA using latent profile analysis (LPA). 512 pre-service music teachers in a Chinese university were recruited to complete the questionnaire. Four groups were identified, namely the maladaptive group, average group, low-medium group, and adaptive group. Overall, students with higher adaptive perfectionism and control-value beliefs and lower maladaptive perfectionism had lower levels of MPA. In other words, students who expect and believe they can perform well, enjoy performing music, and set reasonably high goals had lower levels of MPA. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the heterogeneity of anxiety during music performance in relation to the different patterns comprising personality and beliefs; hence, it has practical implications for the training of pre-service music teachers.