Reducing public speaking anxiety through the use of virtual reality assisted distraction: a systematic pilot study

Abstract

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Fear of Public Speaking (FOPS), also known as glossophobia, is classified as a nongeneric social anxiety disorder associated with performance situations that involve perceived scrutiny by others. Distraction can be used passively or actively, and one of the active types of distraction is virtual reality (VR) distraction. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether VR distraction is effective in reducing anxiety caused by fear of public speaking. METHODS: Fifty-six individuals participated in the study (VR Distraction- VR-D:19, Non VR Distraction- Non VR-D:19, Control: 18), who were university students in a split-plot experimental design. The mean age of the participants was 20.9±1.8 and 55 % (n:31) was female. Participants completed the Personal Information Form, the Public Speaking Anxiety Scale (PSAC), and the COVID -19 Fear Scale (CAS) and were randomly assigned to groups based on these scores. Pre- and post-test measurements were taken using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I). RESULTS: Pre and post-test comparisons revealed statistically significant reductions in STAI-I in all groups. Our main results were pre-test (F: 0.23, p: 0.792, η2: 0.00) and post-test (F: 10.50, p<0.001, η2: 0.28). VR-D reduced anxiety more than the other groups.