speaking anxiety

Introduction

Speaking anxiety, often referred to as public speaking anxiety or communication apprehension, is a common phenomenon that affects a significant portion of the population. It is characterized by feelings of nervousness, worry, and unease when faced with the prospect of speaking in front of an audience. This synthesis aims to present key insights from recent research on the causes, manifestations, and potential treatments for speaking anxiety.

Key Insights

Trait Anxiety and Physiological Reactivity:
- Anxious arousal during public speaking is significantly influenced by trait anxiety and physiological reactivity, accounting for a large portion of the anxiety experienced .
Self-focused Attention:
- High public speaking anxiety is associated with excessive self-focused attention, leading to poorer speaking performances and lower self-evaluations .
Heart Rate Variability (HRV):
- While heart rate changes are linked to speaking anxiety, HRV does not correlate with public speaking apprehension scores, indicating a complex interaction between physiological responses and emotional regulation .
Audience Perception:
- Audiences tend to perceive speakers as less anxious than the speakers perceive themselves, suggesting a discrepancy between self-reported anxiety and external observations.
Prevalence and Classification:
- Public speaking anxiety is highly prevalent and may be considered a distinct subtype of social anxiety disorder (SAD). It is characterized by significant psychological and physiological reactivity .
Impact on Language Learning:
- Speaking anxiety can profoundly affect language learning, particularly in non-native speakers, with specific speaking activities and classroom dynamics contributing to anxiety levels .
Effective Treatments:
- Treatments such as virtual reality exposure and cognitive-behavioral self-help programs delivered via the Internet have shown efficacy in reducing public speaking anxiety.

Conclusion

Speaking anxiety is a multifaceted issue influenced by trait anxiety, physiological responses, and self-focused attention. It is highly prevalent and can significantly impact performance and self-evaluation. While audiences may not perceive the full extent of a speaker's anxiety, effective treatments are available, including innovative approaches like virtual reality and online cognitive-behavioral programs. Understanding these dynamics can help in developing better strategies to manage and reduce speaking anxiety.

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

A Model of Anxious Arousal for Public Speaking

Combined with trait anxiety, physiological reactivity accounts for 73.3% of anxious arousal during public speaking presentations.

Self-focused attention and public speaking anxiety

High public speaking anxiety leads to excessive self-focused attention, leading to poorer speaking performances and lower self-evaluations.

Heart Rate Variability as a Predictor of Speaking Anxiety

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a significant predictor of speaking anxiety, while heart rate and state anxiety show no significant correlation.

The communication of public speaking anxiety

Untrained audiences often underestimate the self-reported anxiety of beginning public speakers, perceiving their anxiety levels as lower than they actually are.

Current status of knowledge on public-speaking anxiety

Public-speaking anxiety is a highly prevalent disorder with high psychological and physiological reactivity, and is amenable to treatment using virtual reality exposure and internet-based cognitive-behavioral self-help programs.

SPEECH ANXIETY: IMPROPER COMMUNICATION & FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

Speech anxiety can be managed through effective communication, self-confidence, and managing anxiety, resulting in improved speech content and delivery.

The Complexity of Speaking Anxiety in a Graduate EFL Classroom

Speaking anxiety in non-English speaking contexts is a complex construct influenced by various factors, requiring individual-level studies to fully understand its dynamics.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION STUDENTS’ ANXIETY IN SPEAKING SKILL PRACTICE

Business administration students at UNISBA Blitar experience the most dominant speaking anxiety types as Test Anxiety (45.45%), Communication Apprehension (33.34%), and Fear of Negative Evaluation (21.21%).

An Investigation of Students' Perspectives on Anxiety and Speaking

Speaking in front of the class is the source of student anxiety, and a relaxed and positive instructor attitude can greatly reduce this anxiety.

The relation between public speaking anxiety and social anxiety: a review.

Public speaking anxiety is a distinct subtype of social phobia, qualitatively and quantitatively different from other subtypes.

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