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Exposure alone reduces negative performance bias in public speaking anxiety

PHILADELPHIA — Exposure alone significantly reduced negative performance bias among individuals with public speaking anxiety, according to data presented at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America annual conference.

“Negative bias about one’s social performance is a key factor in social anxiety disorder, and individuals with public speaking anxiety (PSA) underrate their performance compared to objective observers,” Joyce Cheng and Andrea Niles, of the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote.

Joyce Cheng

To determine if exposure alone reduced discrepancy between self and observer performance ratings and improved observer-rated performance in individuals with PSA, researchers compared speech ratings between individuals with PSA and observers after study participants gave a speech in front of a small audience. Individuals with PSA completed questionnaires before and after completing repeated exposures to public speaking. Study participants without anxiety gave a speech and competed a questionnaire once. Objective observers watched videos of speeches and rated performance using the same questionnaire, which included global and specific measures.

Prior to exposure, individuals with PSA underrated their performance more than nonanxious participants for both global and specific measures (P = .001) and specific measures (P < .001).

Individuals with PSA performed significantly more poorly than nonanxious participants, according to objective ratings (P < .001).

Following exposure, performance bias significantly decreased for specific measures among individuals with PSA (P < .001), and objective ratings improved for global (P < .001) and specific measures (P = .001).

The discrepancy between self and observer performance ratings was no longer greater among individuals with PSA vs. nonanxious participants.

“These findings indicate that exposure alone significantly reduces negative performance bias among PSA individuals, but additional exposure or cognitive interventions may be necessary to fully correct bias and performance deficits,” the researchers concluded. – by Amanda Oldt

Reference:

Cheng J and Niles A. Exposure reduces negative bias in self-rated performance in public speaking fearful participants. Presented at: Anxiety and Depression Association of America Conference; March 31-April 3, 2016; Philadelphia.

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