Psychological well-being in elite performance: exploring female Broadway singers' experiences through Self-Determination Theory

The technical mastery, sophisticated artistry, and reflective awareness of elite singers position them as valuable contributors to music performance science research. This exploratory study examined the lived experiences of seven female Broadway performers, seeking to understand how they navigate the artistic, psychological, and professional demands of contemporary musical theatre. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, interview data generated four themes: Instinct, Intention, and Endurance in Performance; Linking Artistry to Empathy and Emotional Healing; Confidence, Loss, and Persistence; and Everyone's Replaceable: The Normalization of Silence, Power Imbalance, and Trauma. Viewed through the lens of Self-Determination Theory, the analysis highlights how performers’ accounts illuminate connections between autonomy, competence, and relatedness and their ongoing motivation and resilience. These findings offer insight into the psychological and artistic realities of elite female Broadway performers. They underscore the importance of professional environments that support performers’ basic psychological needs, not only to sustain personal well-being but also to enhance the durability and quality of artistic output in a demanding industry.