Virtual reality´s potential to reduce public speaking anxiety: A pilot study

Correia, Maria de Oliveira

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/29841

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Authors

Correia, Maria de Oliveira

Advisor(s)

Almeida, Raquel Simões de

Marques, António

Abstract(s)

Glossophobia is an issue that many people face when it comes to speaking in public due to underlying social anxiety concerns impacting their abilities in various áreas, such as academics and professional settings. In this research project we are exploring the benefits of using virtual reality (VR) technology to help individuals cope with and alleviate public speaking fears. During six reality (VR) simulations involving 30 participants we tracked their reactions, including heart rate (HR) and electrodermal activity (EDA) while also evaluating their anxiety levels using the Public Speaking Anxiety Sclae (PSAS) and the Public Speaking Self-Assessment (PSSAS). The findings showed a decrease in heart rate and an enhancement in self-confidence as indicated by PSSAS signifying the participants gradual adjustment to speaking pressure. With EDA consistently increasing over time indicating that tension lingered despite physical progresso emphasizing the importance of incorporating further strategies for emotional control. These discoveries suggest integrating VR into therapy methods alongside neuroscience driven techniques like neurofeedback to develop holistic and tailored treatment approaches. Additionally, utilizing personalized contente such as an individual’s custom PowerPoint slides in conjuction with scenarios may augment the efficacy of virtual reality in addressing the challenges of public speaking anxiety.