The Effects of Stress Inoculation Training and Skills Training on the Treatment of Speech Anxiety

Abstract

Stress Inoculation Training (SIT), Skills Training and Combination Training were compared to a control condition in the treatment of public speaking anxiety. Speech anxious university students were randomly assigned to one of four groups. Anxiety was measured by self-reports and a behavioral measure. S's in all conditions ( N = 73) gave a pretreatment and post-treatment speech and at one month follow-up, completed self-report measures. Subjects in all treatments improved between pretreatment and follow-up on the Personal Report of Confidence as a Speaker. However, only those in the Skills group decreased their anxious behavior between pretreatment and post-treatment. Trial effects were found for the Social Avoidance and Distress Scale and the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale. Implications are discussed.