Publicação
The impact of a virtual reality exposure therapy program on well-being and social participation in individuals with social phobia: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial
| dc.contributor.author | Silva, Beatriz Isabel Maia da | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-12T10:37:36Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-12T10:37:36Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-11-06 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Anxiety about public speaking is a common manifestation of social phobia, with significant repercussions on the academic and professional performance of higher education students. Traditional intervention strategies have shown limited effectiveness, so virtual reality (VR) emerge as a promising alternative. This protocol describes a randomised clinical trial designed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a VR intervention in reducing oral presentation anxiety and improving perceived communication competence. The study follows a parallel group design, involving higher education students allocated to an experimental group (VR simulations) or a control group (traditional methods). The intervention includes an online theoretical componente and a face-to-face practical componente. Results will be collected at four points in time (T0-T3) using the Public Speaking Anxiety Scale (PSAS) and the Public Speaking Self-Assessment Scale (PSSAS). During the practical componente, physiological data will be obtained using Biosignalplux. Statistical analysis will be conducted in SPSS v30, using descriptive and inferential statistics to test the hypotheses. The study has been approved by the E2S Ethics Committee of the Polytechnic of Porto. All participants will provide informed consente, and confidentiality and compliance with the GDPR will be guaranteed. | eng |
| dc.identifier.tid | 204200415 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10400.22/32106 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.rights.uri | N/A | |
| dc.subject | Anxiety about public speaking | |
| dc.subject | Virtual reality | |
| dc.subject | Higher education students | |
| dc.subject | Study protocol | |
| dc.title | The impact of a virtual reality exposure therapy program on well-being and social participation in individuals with social phobia: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial | eng |
| dc.type | master thesis | |
| dspace.entity.type | Publication | |
| thesis.degree.name | Mestre em Terapia Ocupacional – Reabilitação e Saúde Mental |