CONTRIBUTION OF AN EDUCATIONAL PHASE TO STRESS INOCULATION OF SPEECH ANXIETY

Abstract
Students anxious about speeches were treated by variations of stress inoculation training. The contribution of an educational phase to the training was evaluated. Treatment groups (3) received either the educational phase only, the skills phase only, or both. These were compared with a no-treatment control group. The education-only group was the only group to improve significantly on self-reported anxiety measured before giving a public speech. The education-only and combination group improved on self-reported self-efficacy as a speaker. All groups improved on behavioral ratings of anxiety. The apparent potency of using an educational model in the treatment of anxiety was discussed.