Psychosocial risk factors for injury in performing artists: A scoping review of screening and assessment instruments

The performing arts is a diverse collection of disciplines, sharing an elevated risk of injury related to an array of biopsychosocial risk factors. While screening for physical risk factors is common practice, and largely routine, psychosocial screening for injury in performance artists (PAs) is less well established. This scoping review aimed to systematically map the array of instruments used to screen for, or assess, psychosocial risk factors for injury in non-recreational adult performing artists (PA) s. Additionally, psychometric evaluations of each instrument in PA cohorts were reported where available. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence Synthesis guidelines. Twelve databases relating to performance, health, medicine, kinesiology, and sport were searched. Studies that investigated associations between psychosocial factors and injury in non-recreational (professional, pre-professional, full-time collegiate students, elite competitive) adult PAs were eligible. Fifty-one studies of 7,457 participants met the inclusion criteria (musicians: n = 4,505 (60.5%); dancers: n = 2,680 (35.9%); vocalists n = 225 (3.0%); circus performers: n = 47 (0.6%)). Most participants were professional PAs (n = 4,547 (61.0%)), followed by collegiate PAs (n = 1,424 (19.1%)), and mixed professional, pre-professional, elite competitive, and collegiate cohorts (n = 1,486 (19.9%)). Fortyfive different psychosocial factors were identified across 90 distinct instruments. Stress, anxiety, depression and perfectionism were the factors most frequently investigated. Stress was commonly reported across all PA cohorts. The reliability of just 19 (21%) instruments was established for the target cohort. Many other instruments were valid/reliable in patient, sporting or general population cohorts, but untested in PAs. A common link between many psychosocial risk factors and injury in

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Publication Details

Journal
University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick)
Published
2026-02-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.34961/19307
Primary Topic
Musicians’ Health and Performance
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article
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article

Psychosocial risk factors for injury in performing artists: A scoping review of screening and assessment instruments

Róisín Cahalan, Michele L. Pye, Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain, Rose Schmieg et al.
University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick)
Musicians’ Health and Performance
article

Psychosocial risk factors for injury in performing artists: A scoping review of screening and assessment instruments

Róisín Cahalan, Michele L. Pye, Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain, Rose Schmieg, Breandán de Gallaí, Hannah Fahey de Brún, Caoimhe Barry Walsh
article en

Abstract

The performing arts is a diverse collection of disciplines, sharing an elevated risk of injury related to an array of biopsychosocial risk factors. While screening for physical risk factors is common practice, and largely routine, psychosocial screening for injury in performance artists (PAs) is less well established. This scoping review aimed to systematically map the array of instruments used to screen for, or assess, psychosocial risk factors for injury in non-recreational adult performing artists (PA) s. Additionally, psychometric evaluations of each instrument in PA cohorts were reported where available. This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence Synthesis guidelines. Twelve databases relating to performance, health, medicine, kinesiology, and sport were searched. Studies that investigated associations between psychosocial factors and injury in non-recreational (professional, pre-professional, full-time collegiate students, elite competitive) adult PAs were eligible. Fifty-one studies of 7,457 participants met the inclusion criteria (musicians: n = 4,505 (60.5%); dancers: n = 2,680 (35.9%); vocalists n = 225 (3.0%); circus performers: n = 47 (0.6%)). Most participants were professional PAs (n = 4,547 (61.0%)), followed by collegiate PAs (n = 1,424 (19.1%)), and mixed professional, pre-professional, elite competitive, and collegiate cohorts (n = 1,486 (19.9%)). Fortyfive different psychosocial factors were identified across 90 distinct instruments. Stress, anxiety, depression and perfectionism were the factors most frequently investigated. Stress was commonly reported across all PA cohorts. The reliability of just 19 (21%) instruments was established for the target cohort. Many other instruments were valid/reliable in patient, sporting or general population cohorts, but untested in PAs. A common link between many psychosocial risk factors and injury in

University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick)
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Musicians’ Health and Performance
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Psychosocial risk factors for injury in performing artists: A scoping review of screening and assessment instruments — Róisín Cahalan, Michele L. Pye, et al. · University of Limerick Institutional Repository (University of Limerick) (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS