Affiliations: Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Jacob J. Levy, Department of
Psychology, University of Tennessee, 215G Austin Peay Building, Knoxville, TN
37996, USA. Tel.: +1 865 974 4866; Fax: +1 865 974 3330; E-mail: jlevy4@utk.edu
Abstract: Objective: To examine the Big Five personality traits and
performance anxiety in relation to marching arts satisfaction. Participants: Data were collected from 278 instrumentalists (i.e., brass
players and percussionists) and color guard performers (e.g., dancers)
representing six world class drum and bugle corps. Method: Participants
completed three measures: the Adolescent Personal Style Inventory was used to
measure the Big Five personality factors: Agreeableness, Conscientiousness,
Emotional Stability, Extraversion, and Openness; the Performance Anxiety
Questionnaire – used to assess somatic and cognitive symptoms of performance
anxiety; and the Marching Arts Satisfaction – used to assess for the physical,
social, and contextual environments of drum and bugle corps. Results: Correlation and multiple regression analyses revealed concurrent relationships
between the Big Five and performance anxiety with satisfaction. A linear
combination of the Big Five traits and Performance Anxiety accounted for 36%
of the total variance in satisfaction, with Extraversion, Emotional Stability,
and Performance Anxiety contributing significant unique variance. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that performers who are
extraverted, conscientious, and effective at managing general stress – and
performance stress in particular – find a greater sense of satisfaction with
their participation in world class drum and bugle corps.
Keywords: Big five personality, job satisfaction, performance anxiety, performing arts
