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NCT Number: NCT07228910

Respiratory and Anxiety Status of Music Students

This study aims to determine the prevalence and patterns of dysfunctional breathing (DB) among music students and to investigate its relationship with music performance anxiety (MPA). Dysfunctional breathing, also known as a breathing pattern disorder, refers to maladaptive respiratory patterns not explained by medical conditions such as asthma and is associated with symptoms like hyperventilation, poor breathing control, and abnormal respiratory mechanics. Given that MPA is common among musicians and often accompanied by symptoms such as palpitations, tremor, and shortness of breath, this study explores whether DB contributes to or is influenced by performance-related anxiety in this population.

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Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

About this study

Dysfunctional breathing (DB) represents a spectrum of maladaptive respiratory patterns that cannot be explained by an underlying medical condition. It may involve biomechanical, biochemical, or psychophysiological components, including abnormal breathing mechanics, altered carbon dioxide regulation, and stress-related breathing irregularities. Previous research has suggested that DB can exacerbate symptoms in conditions such as asthma, migraine, orofacial pain, and temporomandibular disorders.

Music performance anxiety (MPA), a common issue among music students and professional musicians, manifests through both psychological and physiological symptoms. Among these, respiratory complaints such as dyspnea, breath-holding, or hyperventilation are frequently reported. Despite this, the potential overlap between DB and MPA has not been adequately investigated.

This cross-sectional study will assess 233 music students using validated self-report questionnaires to evaluate dysfunctional breathing patterns and levels of music performance anxiety. The study seeks to identify the prevalence of DB in this population and to explore possible associations between breathing dysfunction and anxiety related to musical performance. Findings may contribute to a better understanding of respiratory-related mechanisms underlying performance anxiety and inform preventive or therapeutic strategies for musicians.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Being a student of music department
  • Playing an instrument for at least 1 year
  • Volunteer

Exclusion criteria

  • Having any respiratory disease (Asthma , COPD etc.)

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Dysfunctional breathing

    Time frame: 15 minutes drom enrollment

    An umbrella term used to describe a harmful adaptation in breathing that cannot be explained by a medical diagnosis such as asthma. The Self Evaluation of Breathing Questionnaire (SEBQ) will be used to assess dysfunctional breathing. The SEBQ is a scale developed to identify the nature of unexplained symptoms commonly reported by individuals with dysfunctional breathing. It was designed to capture all domains of respiratory symptoms, regardless of whether the individual has hyperventilation syndrome. The questionnaire consists of 25 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from 0 to 3 (0 = never / not true at all, 1 = occasionally / somewhat true, 2 = often / mostly true, 3 = very often / very true). Higher scores indicate a greater degree of breathing dysfunction

  2. Breathing pattern

    Time frame: 15-30 minutes from enrollment

    The Breathing Pattern Assessment Tool (BPAT) will be used to assess breathing pattern. The BPAT is a clinician-administered assessment developed to evaluate breathing pattern disorders. Its validity has been confirmed for screening breathing pattern dysfunction in patients with asthma or unexplained dyspnea. During the assessment, the participant is seated in a chair with back support while the clinician evaluates seven components of the breathing pattern: abdominal and chest wall movements, inspiratory and expiratory sounds, sighing or other signs of air hunger, nasal and oral breathing, breathing rate, and rhythmicity of the pattern. Each item is scored from 0 to 2, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 14. Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of breathing pattern disorder. A total score of ≥4 is considered a positive screen, with a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 75%.

  3. Music performance anxiety

    Time frame: 30-45 minutes from enrollment

    The Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI) will be used to assess the level and underlying causes of music performance anxiety. T. The inventory consists of 25 items grouped under five subscales: (1) Negative Performance Perception (items 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25), (2) Psychological Vulnerability (items 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 21), (3) Somatic Anxiety (item 4), (4) Personal Control (item 17), and (5) Physiological Vulnerability (item 20). Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree), yielding a total score between 0 and 150. Scores of 105 and above indicate high music performance anxiety, whereas scores of 45 and below indicate low anxiety levels.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Ayşenur YILMAZ, PhD

CONTACT

+90 543 283 38 19

Erhan KIZMAZ, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+90 541 896 66 76

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Pamukkale University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Relationship Between Dysfunctional Breathing, Respiratory Patterns, and Performance Anxiety in Music Students

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Nov 14, 2025
Registry last updated
Nov 14, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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