Passion and performance anxiety: How it affects the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in dancers.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the association between the incidence of musculoskeletal disorder episodes (MDEs) and obsessive and harmonious passion as well as performance anxiety throughout a dance season, which lasted 38 weeks. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: A total of 118 professional and preprofessional dancers were recruited and assessed at baseline, while 88 completed the follow-up. Their levels of passion and performance anxiety were assessed at the beginning of a dance season using the Passion Scale and the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory, respectively. To monitor the incidence of MDEs throughout a dance season, dancers were asked to complete a weekly electronic diary. RESULTS: A higher level of obsessive passion was associated with a higher incidence of MDEs causing an interruption of dance activities (ß = 0.264, p = 0.022). Harmonious passion and performance anxiety were not associated with MDEs throughout the season. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study support the role of obsessive passion in the development of MDEs in dancers.

Hormonal and psychological influences on performance anxiety in adolescent female volleyball players: a multi-approach study.

Background: The neuroendocrine system has important implications for affiliation behavior among humans and can be used to assess the correlation between social relationships, stress, and health. This can be influenced by social closeness; this aspect is the closeness towards another individual or a group of individuals such as a sports team. Sports performance anxiety is considered an unpleasant emotional reaction composed of physiological, cognitive, affective, and behavioral components. This motivates us to learn about the process that can influence the outcome of competition. Hormones and genetics would seem to influence outcome and performance. In this regard, many studies have focused on the exercise response as a function of ovarian hormones and it has been observed that progesterone is a hormone that plays a key role in reducing anxiety, and thus stress, in humans and other animals. On the other hand, high cortisol concentrations are known to contribute to increased anxiety levels. However, the salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) enzyme has been suggested as marker of acute stress than cortisol. Genetics also seem to influence anxiety and stress management as in the case of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and striatal dopamine transporter (DAT). Therefore, the study aims to investigate social closeness, as a measure of sports team cohesion that can influence athletes' performance results, and its ability to influence the secretion of hormones, such as progesterone and cortisol, that affect the management of sports anxiety while also taking into account genetic background during a volleyball match. Methods: Twenty-six female volleyball players who volunteered participated in this study (mean ± SD: age, 12.07 ± 0.7 years), and played in the final of the provincial volleyball championship in Palermo. All girls were during the ovarian cycle, in detail between the follicular and early ovulatory phases. Results: The results showed a significant decrease in salivary cortisol only in the winning group (p < 0.039). In fact, whilst in the latter the pre-match level was 7.7 ng/ml and then decreased to 4.5 ng/ml after the match, in the losers group change was not statistically significant (7.8 ng/ml vs 6.6 ng/ml pre- and post-match). As to the sAA concentration, the winning team showed a statistically significant variation between pre- and post-match than the losers (166.01 ± 250 U/ml vs 291.59 ± 241 U/ml) (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Analyzing the results of the SAS-2 psychological test it is highlighted that, on average, the loser group was more anxious than the winning group, and this contributed to the final result. In conclusion, there is strong evidence supporting the state of the art that many factors can affect performance anxiety and thus the performance itself.

[Development of a measuring tool for performance anxiety in obstetrics]. / Développement d'un outil d'évaluation de l'anxiété de performance en obstétrique.

OBJECTIVE: Developing a measuring tool for physician's performance anxiety during obstetrical procedures, as a self-administered questionnaire. METHODS: We used the Delphi method. First, we did a literature review to identify the items to submit for the first round. A panel of experts was asked to rate the relevance of items from one to six. For the first round of Delphi, items were retained if more than 70% of respondents assigned a five or six rating. Items were excluded if more than 70% of respondents assigned a one or two rating. All the other items, plus those suggested by the panel, were submitted to a second round of Delphi. The same item selection conditions were applied to the second round. RESULTS: The overall response rate to the Delphi was 79% (19 respondents). At the end of the first round, 14 items were consensually relevant, no item was consensually irrelevant. For the second round, the 18 items that did not find consensus and seven new items suggested by the experts in the first round were submitted. At the end of the second round, nine items were retained by consensus as relevant. CONCLUSION: This study defined by consensus 23 items for a self-questionnaire to measure specific performance anxiety in obstetrics divided into five dimensions: perceived stress, assessment of the risk of complications, medico-legal risk, impact of the healthcare team and peers, self-confidence and decision-making confidence. We intend to validate this tool in real population.

Not realizing that you don't know: Fraction state anxiety is reduced by natural number bias.

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that mathematics anxiety negatively correlates with primary school mathematics performance, including fraction knowledge. However, recently no significant correlation was found between fraction arithmetic performance and state anxiety measured after the fraction task. One possible explanation is the natural number bias (NNB), a tendency to apply natural number reasoning in fraction tasks, even when this is inappropriate. Students with the NNB may not realize they are answering incorrectly. AIMS: The aim is to examine whether a misconception, namely the NNB, can influence students' fraction state anxiety. SAMPLE: The participants were 119 fifth- and sixth-grade students categorized as belonging to an NNB group (n = 60) or a No-NNB group (n = 59), according to their NNB-related answering profile on a fraction arithmetic task. METHODS: Group differences were examined for state anxiety and performance on a fraction and a whole number arithmetic task and self-reported trait mathematics anxiety. RESULTS: The NNB group reported lower fraction state anxiety than the No-NNB group, but there was no significant difference in trait mathematics anxiety. Furthermore, the NNB group reported lower fraction state anxiety than whole number state anxiety, while the opposite was true for the No-NNB group. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that students' perceptions of their own performance influence their state anxiety responses, and students with a NNB may not be aware of their misconception and poor performance. Not taking into account qualitative differences in low performance, such as misconceptions, may lead to misinterpretations in state anxiety-performance relations.

Altered cortical thickness of the superior frontal gyrus and fusiform gyrus in individuals with subthreshold social anxiety.

Subthreshold social anxiety (SSA) is a condition in which individuals experience social anxiety that does not reach the threshold required for a clinical diagnosis of a social anxiety disorder (SAD). Although SSA may not impair lives as severely as SAD, it can affect social functioning. However, only a few studies focused on structural neural correlates of SSA. We recruited 65 individuals with SSA and used the Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale to assess their social and performance anxiety levels and other relevant measures of social anxiety. Voxel-wise whole-brain correlational analyses showed a positive association between the cortical thickness (CT) of the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and social anxiety levels and a negative correlation between the CT of the fusiform gyrus (FG) and performance anxiety levels in individuals with SSA. Exploratory Pearson's correlation analyses showed significant positive correlations between the CT of the SFG and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 total scores and negative associations between the CT of the FG and Beck Anxiety Inventory total scores. Our study provides insight into the neural basis of SSA, particularly performance anxiety, by highlighting the association between CT in specific brain regions and SSA characteristics.

The application of virtual reality exposure versus relaxation training in music performance anxiety: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Performance anxiety is the most frequently reported anxiety disorder among professional musicians. Typical symptoms are - on a physical level - the consequences of an increase in sympathetic tone with cardiac stress, such as acceleration of heartbeat, increase in blood pressure, increased respiratory rate and tremor up to nausea or flush reactions. These symptoms can cause emotional distress, a reduced musical and artistical performance up to an impaired functioning. While anxiety disorders are preferably treated using cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure, this approach is rather difficult for treating music performance anxiety since the presence of a public or professional jury is required and not easily available. The use of virtual reality (VR) could therefore display an alternative. So far, no therapy studies on music performance anxiety applying virtual reality exposure therapy have investigated the therapy outcome including cardiovascular changes as outcome parameters. METHODS: This mono-center, prospective, randomized and controlled clinical trial has a pre-post design with a follow-up period of 6 months. 46 professional and semi-professional musicians will be recruited and allocated randomly to an VR exposure group or a control group receiving progressive muscle relaxation training. Both groups will be treated over 4 single sessions. Music performance anxiety will be diagnosed based on a clinical interview using ICD-10 and DSM-5 criteria for specific phobia or social anxiety. A behavioral assessment test is conducted three times (pre, post, follow-up) in VR through an audition in a concert hall. Primary outcomes are the changes in music performance anxiety measured by the German Bühnenangstfragebogen and the cardiovascular reactivity reflected by heart rate variability (HRV). Secondary outcomes are changes in blood pressure, stress parameters such as cortisol in the blood and saliva, neuropeptides, and DNA-methylation. DISCUSSION: The trial investigates the effect of VR exposure in musicians with performance anxiety compared to a relaxation technique on anxiety symptoms and corresponding cardiovascular parameters. We expect a reduction of anxiety but also a consecutive improvement of HRV with cardiovascular protective effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov. (ClinicalTrials.gov Number: NCT05735860).

Performance Anxiety in Radiology Education and Clinical Practice.

Performance anxiety is fear, anxiety, or avoidance of performative tasks, due to possible evaluation or criticism by others. Performance anxiety is well described in public speakers, musicians, and even surgeons. Its impact on radiologists and especially radiology trainees has not been explored. This article details performance anxiety, framing radiologists as performers, and highlights its potential impact on trainees and practicing radiologists. We offer strategies to manage and enhance the effects of performance anxiety that can be implemented in a training environment.

Prevalencia del síndrome del impostor y nivel de autoestima en estudiantes de una facultad de medicina del Ecuador / Prevalence of impostor syndrome and level of self-esteem in students of a medical school in Ecuador

INTRODUCCIÓN. El síndrome del impostor es un trastorno caracterizado por la incapacidad del individuo para reconocer sus habilidades e interiorizar sus logros, lo cual impacta negativamente en la salud mental y desempeño académico-laboral. OBJETIVO. Identificar la prevalencia del síndrome del impostor y nivel de autoestima en estudiantes de una facultad de medicina del Ecuador. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS. Estudio transversal descriptivo, aplicado en los estudiantes de medicina de segundo a décimo nivel, de la facultad de medicina de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador en el periodo febrero a junio de 2022. Para el análisis estadístico se aplicaron frecuencias absolutas y relativas, tablas cruzadas, razón de prevalencia, chi cuadrado como contraste de hipótesis. RESULTADOS. La mayoría de estudiantes con síndrome de impostor fueron mujeres (74,2%); pertenecer al sexo femenino aumentó dos veces su probabilidad (Razón de prevalencia: 2,12; Índice de confianza: 95% 1,66-2,17; p: <0,001). Para el sexo masculino autopercibirse como perfeccionista incrementó dos veces la probabilidad (Razón de prevalencia: 2,3; Índice de confianza: 95% 1,53-3,46; p: < 0,001). La autoestima baja no se asoció a mayor probabilidad de desarrollar este síndrome. En contraste, no percibir apoyo social incrementó al doble su probabilidad (Razón de prevalencia: 1,72; Índice de confianza: 95% 1,16-2,55; p 0,007). DISCUSIÓN. Estudios previos muestran elevada prevalencia de este síndrome en estudiantes medicina, con predominio en mujeres. En concordancia con la literatura citada, no existió asociación entre nivel de carrera y síndrome del impostor; el perfeccionismo se asocia a mayor probabilidad de síndrome del impostor. CONCLUSIÓN. El síndrome del impostor es frecuente en estudiantes de medicina, existen factores determinantes que incrementan la probabilidad del síndrome como ser mujer, autopercibirse como perfeccionista en la población masculina y no percibir apoyo social, la importancia de su reconocimiento reside en la prevención del distrés psicológico y la deserción académica.

INTRODUCTION. Impostor syndrome is a disorder characterized by an individual's inability to recognize his or her abilities and internalize his or her accomplishments, which negatively impacts mental health and academic and occupational performance. OBJECTIVE. To identify the prevalence of impostor syndrome and level of self-esteem in students of a medical school in Ecuador. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Descriptive cross-sectional study, applied to medical students from second to tenth level, of the medical school of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador in the period January to June 2022. For the statistical analysis, absolute and relative frequencies, cross tables, prevalence ratio, chi-square and hypothesis testing were applied. RESULTS. The majority of students with impostor syndrome were female (74.2%); belonging to the female sex increased their probability twice (Prevalence ratio: 2.12; Confidence index: 95% 1.66-2.17; p: < 0.001). For the male sex, self-perceiving oneself as a perfectionist increased the probability twice (Prevalence ratio: 2.3; Confidence index: 95% 1.53-3.46; p: < 0.001). Low self-esteem was not associated with a higher probability of developing this syndrome. In contrast, not perceiving social support doubled its probability (Prevalence ratio: 1.72; Confidence index: 95% 1.16-2.55; p 0.007). DISCUSSION. Previous studies show a high prevalence of this syndrome in medical students, with a predominance in women. In agreement with the literature cited, there was no association between career level and impostor syndrome; perfectionism is associated with a higher probability of impostor syndrome. CONCLUSIONS. Impostor syndrome is frequent in medical students, there are determinant factors that increase the probability of the syndrome such as being a woman, self-perceived perfectionism in the male population and not perceiving social support, the importance of its recognition lies in the prevention of psychological distress and academic desertion.

Freeing the performer's mind: A network analysis of music performance anxiety, negative affect, self-consciousness and mindfulness among music performers.

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a common damaging phenomenon in musicians' careers. Mindfulness stands as a promising construct to prevent MPA. However, the relationships between mindfulness and MPA are scarcely explored, alongside other relevant attention-based (e.g., self-consciousness) or emotion-based constructs (e.g., negative affect). This study explores the relationships between these constructs. A sample of 151 musicians was assessed to explore the relationships between these constructs. Self-reports of mindfulness, MPA, negative affect, and self-consciousness were applied. We implemented network analysis following a general (second-order) and specific (first-order) framework. Networks showed dispositional mindfulness as negatively associated with negative affect and MPA in both general and facet levels, while mindfulness in past performances was only negatively associated with negative affect. MPA was positively associated with negative affect and self-consciousness. Mindfulness displayed light or no associations with self-consciousness. Therefore, mindfulness seems to be a relevant construct toward MPA. We propose a preliminary model to improve mindfulness research and interventions applied to music performers. We also outline limitations and future directions.

Recognizing and Managing Performance Anxiety in First-Year Supervised Pastoral Education (SPE) Students: Description, Causes and Remedies.

Describes the nature of performance anxiety that can appear in students doing their first clinical placement in Supervised Pastoral Education1 in the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care. Explores origins of performance anxiety drawing on research, the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-5, theology of Paul Tillich and supervisory experiences of authors. Examines Canadian contextual factors like COVID-19, culture and multi-faith. Offers ways students might manage anxiety with help from supervisors and peers.

Effects of educational music training on music performance anxiety and stress response among first-year undergraduate music education students.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of educational music training in lowering stress and performance anxiety among first-year undergraduate music education students is an understudied area. The goal of this study was to determine if educational music training affects first-year undergraduate music education students' stress and anxiety associated with musical performance. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial design was used in this study. A waiting list group of 35 students and an educational music training intervention group of 35 first-year undergraduate music education students were randomized for the study to commence. The Kenny music performance anxiety (MPA) scale and perceived stress scale (PSS) were used as outcome measures. RESULTS: The findings show that, among first-year undergraduate music education students, educational music training decreased their stress level associated with music performance [F(1, 68) = 390.751; P = .001, ηp2 = 0.270]. It was also found that after the educational music training, the students reported decreased anxiety level associated with music performance [F(1, 68) = 1375.495; P = .001, ηp2 = 0.344]. Significant interaction effects of educational music training and time on students' stress [F(2, 68) = 127.301; P = .001] and anxiety levels [F(2, 68) = 260.535; P = .001] were also found. CONCLUSION: Educational music intervention can be successful as a means of reducing anxiety and stress in undergraduate music education students during the first year of study.

Low Self-Esteem and Music Performance Anxiety Can Predict Depression in Musicians.

BACKGROUND: Music performance anxiety (MPA) is an issue concerning musicians from all levels but is still a rather neglected topic in the education and employment of musicians. This study investigated the link between self-esteem, MPA, and depression within a German-speaking sample of musicians of different professions. The underlying question of this study was generated during psychotherapy treatment of musicians with depression and MPA. Thus, we investigated whether musicians with low self-esteem had MPA or depression. METHODS: An online questionnaire on self-esteem, performance anxiety, and depression was sent to a sample (n=295) of German musicians of different professions and levels of education. The assessment tools in the online questionnaire included the Rosenberg-Self-Esteem-Scale, the Kenny Music-Performance-Anxiety-Inventory, and the Beck-Depression-Inventory. RESULTS: Music students had a significantly lower self-esteem scores compared to employed professionals and amateurs and a higher MPA compared to employed musicians. Regression analyses showed a significant prediction of depression by self-esteem and MPA. Specifically, low self-esteem and the cognitive and behavioral aspects of MPA were significant predictors of depression. Partial mediation by MPA between self-esteem and depression was found. CONCLUSION: Low self-esteem and MPA could predict depression. The scores of the entire sample of musicians regarding their MPA and depression were higher than in the general German population. These results highlight the importance of education and removal of negativity regarding performance anxiety in order to improve psychotherapy methods and ensure musicians' health in general.

Metaverse-based virtual reality experience and endurance performance in sports economy: Mediating role of mental health and performance anxiety.

Metaverse sports arena is gaining popularity globally that empowers virtual reality sporting experience through digital avatars. The main objective of the current study is to explore the impact of the Metaverse-based virtual reality sporting experience on the endurance performance of young Chinese athletes, with the mediating role of their mental health condition and performance anxiety. The study's participants mainly included Chinese athletes, especially the sample group is an accurate depiction of young athletes using a convenience sampling approach. SEM-AMOS statistical software was used for the analysis and validation of the proposed relationships. The study findings statistically validate that mental health and performance anxiety fully mediate the direct associations between virtual reality sporting experiences and the endurance performance of young Chinese athletes. Interestingly, the mental health condition of the young Chinese athletes imposes a greater impact on their endurance performance, in contrast to the adverse effects of their performance anxiety. The outcomes of the present research guide young athletes on the opportunities to enhance their virtual reality sporting abilities and boost their endurance performance. Policymakers can also build systems to dissolve physical and geographical barriers, reduce performance anxiety, and sustain mental health in virtual reality sporting events through the metaverse.

Music Performance Anxiety in Musical Theater Performers: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVES: Performance anxiety (PA) is debilitating and impacts the sufferer's ability to perform. Forgetfulness, concentration loss, and physical symptoms develop, leading to some giving up performing.
Methods: An online questionnaire was used to gather data, including demographic questions and the Kenny Music Performance Anxiety Inventory (K-MPAI). The questionnaire was distributed via social media and the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) database. Data was collected over a 2-month period and was analyzed using simple proportions with a score of ≥ 104 on the K-MPAI indicating the presence of PA and ≥ 130 indicating notable levels of PA.
Results: Thirty-three participants completed the questionnaire (57.6% female). When looking at the ages of participants (18 to 80), the most common age range was 31 to 35 (33%). Two-thirds of participants were deemed to suffer from PA after completing the K-MPAI. A large proportion of participants with PA (63.6%) scored above the threshold score of 130 indicating "significant performance anxiety." Females or currently unemployed performers showed higher levels of PA than other subgroups. However, a chi-squared test showed no significance between sexes (p = 0.32) or employment status (p = 0.31) and the incidence of PA.
Conclusion: The research showed that PA is a significant issue in musical theater, as it is with other musicians who have been studied extensively. We conclude that more research is needed to look at appropriate treatments specifically for musical theater performers.

Surgical Performance Anxiety and Wellbeing Among Surgeons: A Cross-sectional Study in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE: This national cross-sectional study aims to establish the prevalence and potential impact of performance anxiety among surgeons and investigate its association with psychological traits and wellbeing. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND DATA: Despite a growing awareness that human factors, non-technical skills and wellbeing in healthcare affect patient outcomes, an area that has remained unexplored is surgical performance anxiety (SPA). METHODS: A prospectively registered, cross-sectional study using mixed methods was conducted across the United Kingdom. Data captured included demographics, surgical specialty, trait anxiety, trait perfectionism, SPA, and surgical perfectionism scores. Wellbeing was assessed using The Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, whereas qualitative data were collected regarding surgeons' experiences of SPA. RESULTS: A total of 631 responses were collected. Mean age was 41·2 years and mean surgical experience 15·3 years. A total of 62% were male and 52% of consultant/attending grade. A total of 100% felt that SPA affected surgeons, with 87% having experienced it themselves. A total of 65% reported SPA negatively impacted surgical performance and 96% felt SPA negatively impacted surgeons' wellbeing. Male surgeons reported significantly better wellbeing than female surgeons. Surgeons with SPA reported significantly worse wellbeing compared with surgeons who did not experience SPA. Surgeons in general experienced significantly lower mental wellbeing compared with population norms. Thematic analysis highlighted a reticence to share SPA openly and need for cultural change. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical performance anxiety is a very common and significant challenge among surgeons across all specialties at all levels of experience in the United Kingdom. It is perceived by surgeons to affect surgical performance adversely and is associated with worse psychological wellbeing. A more open culture of sharing and acknowledgment has been identified to be beneficial.

Endogenous cortisol correlates with performance under pressure on a working memory task in capuchin monkeys.

Humans often experience striking performance deficits when their outcomes are determined by their own performance, colloquially referred to as "choking under pressure." Physiological stress responses that have been linked to both choking and thriving are well-conserved in primates, but it is unknown whether other primates experience similar effects of pressure. Understanding whether this occurs and, if so, its physiological correlates, will help clarify the evolution and proximate causes of choking in humans. To address this, we trained capuchin monkeys on a computer game that had clearly denoted high- and low-pressure trials, then tested them on trials with the same signals of high pressure, but no difference in task difficulty. Monkeys significantly varied in whether they performed worse or better on high-pressure testing trials and performance improved as monkeys gained experience with performing under pressure. Baseline levels of cortisol were significantly negatively related to performance on high-pressure trials as compared to low-pressure trials. Taken together, this indicates that less experience with pressure may interact with long-term stress to produce choking behavior in early sessions of a task. Our results suggest that performance deficits (or improvements) under pressure are not solely due to human specific factors but are rooted in evolutionarily conserved biological factors.

Personality characteristics and competitive anxiety in individual and team athletes.

The purposes of this study were to investigate differences in personality and competitive anxiety depending on types of sports and gender, and to determine the influence of personality on competitive anxiety. Participants included 237 athletes (134 men and 103 women) who participated in the Thailand University Games, 2020. They were classified as individual (n = 114) and team (n = 123) athletes. Personality characteristics and competitive anxiety were assessed by using NEO five-factor inventory and sport competitive anxiety test. Differences between individual and team athletes and between gender were tested by using independent t-test. Relationships between personality and competitive anxiety were analyzed by using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Moreover, multiple regression analysis was used to measure the contributions of personality on competitive anxiety. The results showed that competitive anxiety was significant difference between individual and team athletes (p = 0.03, d = 0.28). However, there was no difference in personality between groups. When compared between gender, there were significant differences in competitive anxiety (p < 0.001, d = 0.52) and the agreeableness (p = 0.04, d = -0.26) component of personality between female and male athletes. From the correlation analyzes, four characteristics of personality showed significant associations with competitive anxiety including neuroticism (r = -0.472, ρ < 0.001), extraversion (r = 0.184, ρ = 0.005), agreeableness (r = 0.147, ρ = 0.024), and conscientiousness (r = 0.202, ρ = 0.002). Among five personality factors, the neuroticism had minimally negative effect on competitive anxiety (ß = -0.52) with percentage of prediction of 22%. These can be concluded that types of sport and gender are the important factors affecting personality and competitive anxiety. The athletes with certain personality traits were more susceptible to competitive anxiety. Importantly, the neuroticism could serve as a prediction of the competitive anxiety in all collegiate athletes.

Links between Virginity Beliefs, Negative Feelings after Virginity Loss and Sexual Performance Anxiety in a Sample of German-Speaking Heterosexual-Identified Women and Men.

Gender norms can influence women and men adopting different beliefs toward their own virginity. The current online cross-sectional questionnaire study was applied in a sample of German-speaking heterosexual-identified women (n = 536) and men (n = 181; Mage = 23.6, SD = 3.7). In men negative virginity loss experiences and sexual performance anxiety were especially prevalent when virginity loss occurred at an age that was inconsistent with men's virginity beliefs. In women age at virginity loss was not linked to virginity loss experiences or sexual performance anxiety, but the holding of virginity beliefs that deviated from gender norms was associated with those variables.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2021.1958963 .