Mindful Student Musicians Use Deliberate Practice Techniques and Report Lower Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms
Sally S. Wynn, Rachel Ricks, Unurzaya Amarsaikhan, Jonathan D. Simpson, Austin Hanna, John M. Vincent, Sandra E. Sephton
Mindfulness August 27, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-026-02966-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional observational study Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 128 |
| Population | Undergraduate instrumental musicians |
| Measures | Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Deliberate Practice in Music Inventory, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Key findings | Trait mindfulness was associated with greater use of deliberate practice techniques (β = 0.29) and with lower anxiety (β = −0.49) and depressive symptoms (β = −0.48) in undergraduate instrumental musicians. Deliberate practice was not significantly associated with anxiety or depressive symptoms. The authors note the cross-sectional design precludes causal conclusions. |
Abstract
Anxiety and depressive symptoms are elevated among musicians, including student musicians. This study examined whether trait mindfulness was associated with musicianship indicators and mental health symptoms in undergraduate instrumental musicians. Musicianship indicators included instrument category, weekly practice time, and use of deliberate practice techniques. Undergraduate instrumental musicians ( n = 128) completed self-report measures of trait mindfulness, deliberate practice, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, including the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Deliberate Practice in Music Inventory, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Hypotheses were tested using analyses of variance and linear regressions. Sensitivity analyses examined whether primary findings remained consistent after removing the Observing facet from the mindfulness total score and after adjusting for age, years of training, and gender. Mindfulness was significantly associated with greater use of deliberate practice techniques, β = 0.29, p = 0.001. This association remained significant when Observing was removed from the mindfulness score, β = 0.22, p = 0.013. Mindfulness was also associated with lower anxiety, β = −0.49, p < 0.001, and lower depressive symptoms, β = −0.48, p < 0.001. Deliberate practice was not significantly associated with anxiety or depressive symptoms. The pattern of findings remained unchanged in covariate-adjusted sensitivity analyses. Findings suggest trait mindfulness is associated with both deliberate practice and lower mental health symptoms among undergraduate instrumental musicians. Because the study was cross-sectional, future experimental research is needed to test whether mindfulness training, deliberate-practice instruction, or combined interventions improve practice quality, well-being, or performance in student musicians. This study was not preregistered.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. International sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 985 |
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Ecstasy users who participated in a WWW study of recreational drug use | 2002 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 282 |
| 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. Adults who used 5-MeO-DMT in a group setting with structured procedures | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 362 |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Mindfulness in cultural context Transcultural Psychiatry August 1, 2015
- A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for major depressive disorder in undergraduate students: Dose- response effect, inflammatory markers and BDNF. Psychiatry Research 2024
- Assessing the mindfulness predictors of mental health: does mindfulness practise or dispositional mindfulness better protect young peoples' mental health? Health psychology and behavioral medicine 2024
and 3 more in the library