The Influence of Cognitive Factors in Public Speaking Anxiety

Public speaking anxiety (PSA) is a prevalent challenge that can hinder learners’ academic and personal development. This study draws on Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (1986) and the three-component of PSA model by Bartholomay and Houlihan (2016). Quantitative data were obtained through a four-part survey adapted from Public Speaking Anxiety Scale (PSAS) and completed by 159 undergraduates. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients were used for analysis. Participants experienced the highest cognitive anxiety from fear of forgetting their words, followed by concerns about audience judgment and embarrassment. Behavioural signs, such as handshaking and fidgeting, were moderate. Physiologically, the most prominent self-reported response during speeches was elevated heart rate, accompanied by reduced relaxation. Significant positive relationships were indicated between cognitive factors and both behavioral factors and physiological factors. These findings highlight the dynamic interplay between internal experiences and external expressions of PSA. They also support a framework where cognitive appraisals (SCT personal factors) influence behaviours and physiological arousal (Bartholomay & Houlihan, 2016). The results suggest the need for cognitively focused, theory-informed interventions in public speaking education.

public speaking anxiety (PSA), cognitive anxiety, behavioural signs

1. Ahmed, W. M. M., Abdalmotalib, M. M., Mohammed, G. T. F., Siddig, M. M. Y., Salih, H. S., Ahmed, A. A. A., & Abdullateef, S. S. (2025). Public speaking anxiety and self-efficacy among Sudanese medical students: a cross-sectional study. BMC psychology, 13(1), 600. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Badrasawi, K. J. I., Abu Kassim, N. L., Zubairi, A. M., Md Johar, E., & Sidik, S. S. (2021). English language speaking anxiety, self-confidence and perceived ability among science and technology undergraduate students: A Rasch analysis. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 29(S3), 309–334. https://doi.org/10.47836/pjssh.29.S3.16 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice-Hall. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of Thought and Theory: A Social Cognitive Theory. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1985-98423-000 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Bartholomay, E. M., & Houlihan, D. D. (2016). Public Speaking Anxiety Scale: Preliminary psychometric data and scale validation. Personality and Individual Differences, 94, 211–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.01.026 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Bodie, G. D. (2010). A racing heart, rattling knees, and ruminative thoughts: Defining, explaining, and treat-ing public speaking anxiety. Communication Education, 59, 70–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/0363452090344.3849 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Ch’ng, L. C., Chan, A. N., & Noor Ain, S. (2025). Exploring ESL public speaking anxiety among undergraduates. Journal of Creative Practices in Language Learning and Teaching, 13(1), 146-169. 10.24191/cplt.v13i1.4234 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Cheng, J., Niles, A. N., & Craske, M. G. (2017). Exposure reduces negative bias in self-rated performance in public speaking participants. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. 54. 101-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2016.07.006 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Dansieh, S. A., Owusu, E., & Seidu, G. A. (2021). Glossophobia: The fear of public speaking in ESL students in Ghana. Language Teaching, 1(1), p22–p22. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Dellah, N. F., Zabidin, N., Nordin, N. A., Amanah, F. H., & Atan, M. A. (2020). Glossophobia: Evaluating university students’ speaking anxiety in English oral presentations. Jurnal Ilmi, 10(1), 116–126. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Gallego, A., McHugh, L., Penttonen, M., & Lappalainen, R. (2021). Measuring public speaking anxiety: Self-report, behavioral, and physiological. Behavior Modification, 46(4), 782–798. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445521994308 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Grieve, R., Woodley, J., Hunt, S. E., & McKay, A. (2021). Student fears of oral presentations and public speaking in higher education: A qualitative survey. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 45(9), 1281–1293. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1948509 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M. B., & Cope, J. A. (1986). Foreign language classroom anxiety. The Modern Language Journal, 70(2), 125–132. https://doi.org/10.2307/327317 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Huda, N., Bibi, M., Sajjad, M., Mukhtar, S., & Mukhtar, R. (2024). Stage fright to scholarly flight: the impact of public speaking anxiety and fear of negative evaluation on academic performance in university students. JHRR, 4(3), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v4i3.1331 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Ibrahim, N., Anuar, N. A. K., Mokhtar, M. I., Zakaria, N., Jasman, N. H., & Rasdi, N. N. (2021). Exploring Fear of Public Speaking Through Social Cognitive Theory. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(1), 135–154. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Jackson,S.L. (2015) Research methods and Statistics-A Critical Thinking Approach (5tH Edition) Boston, USA:: Cengage Learning. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Lucas, S. E., & Stob, P. (2020). The art of public speaking. McGraw-Hill. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Megawati, M., & Apriani, T. (2023). The Dynamics of Public Speaking Anxiety and its Impact on Speaking Performance: A Study Among College Students in Business and Economics. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan. https://doi.org/10.37641/jimkes.v11i3.2156 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Mohd Naser, N. A., & Mat Isa, I. A. (2021). Public Speaking Anxiety in Oral Presentation Class among Undergraduates. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(10). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v11-i10/11456 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Mohd Sobri Paridaluddin, N. F., Zhang, J., & Chen, R. (2023). Factors of public speaking anxiety (PSA) and strategies to mitigate PSA among postgraduate students of Malaysian public universities in online presentations. International Journal of Modern Languages and Applied Linguistics (IJMAL), 7(3), 15-35. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Mokhtar, M. (2025). Factors of public speaking anxiety (PSA) and coping strategies among Malaysian public university students in virtual and physical presentations. Asian Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences, 7(2), 149–157. https://doi.org/10.55057/ajress.2025.7.2.15 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Mufanti, R., Nimasari, E. P., & Gestanti, R. A. (2017). Can I be a public speaker? Get ready for speech (2nd ed.). CV. Nata Karya. https://isbn.perpusnas.go.id/Account/SearchBuku?searchTxt=9786026199553 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Pike, C. and Raymundo, J. (2024). Public speaking classroom anxiety and oral language performance of senior high school students. International Journal of Linguistics Literature and Translation, 7(7), 143-151. https://doi.org/10.32996/ijllt.2024.7.7.15 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Rahmat, N.H. (2019) Cycle of Fear in Learning: The Case for Three Language Skills. American Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 4(1), 151-162. https://onlinesciencepublishing.com/index.php/ajssh/article/view/129/151 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Rahmat, N. H. (2025). The influence of beliefs and expectations from public speaking. International Journal of Research and Innovation. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Schunk, D. H., & DiBenedetto, M. K. (2020). Self-efficacy and human motivation. In Advances in Motivation Science (pp. 153–179). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.adms.2020.10.001 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Spielberger, C. D. (1972a). Anxiety: current trends in theory and research. 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-657401-2.50008-3 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Sugiyati, K., & Indriani, L. (2021). Exploring the level and primary causes of public speaking anxiety among English department students. Journal of Research on Language Education, 2(1), 57–66. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Syed Abdul Rahman, S. A., Nasarudin, M. R., Suhar Rezwan, N. B., Zainal Abidin, N. S., Yusri, N. A., & Arman, N. S. (2025). Investigating public speaking anxiety among undergraduates. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(7), 205–220. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v15-i7/26055 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Tafriha, I. B., & Hasan, Moh. A. K. (2024). The Influence of Self-Efficacy on Arabic Public Speaking Anxiety/تأثير الكفاءة الذاتية على قلق التحدث باللغة العربية أمام الجمهور. Athla, 5(1), 16–27. https://doi.org/10.22515/athla.v5i1.9428 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Taly, B. C., & Paramasivam, S. (2020). Speaking Anxiety Among Postgraduate International Students in the Academic Context of a University in Malaysia. International Journal of Linguistics, 12(1), 198. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v12i1.16053 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Yaikhong, K., & Usaha, S. (2012). A Measure of EFL Public Speaking Class Anxiety: Scale Development and Preliminary Validation and Reliability. English Language Teaching, 5(12), 23-35. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1080110.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Ye, T., Elliott, R., McFarquhar, M., & Mansell, W. (2024). The impact of audience dynamics on public speaking anxiety in virtual scenarios: An online survey. Journal of Affective Disorders, 363, 420–429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.061 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Zabidin, N., Mohamad, N. A., Razali, N. A., Ramlan, A. N. M., & Rahmat, N. H. (2023). How does motivation affect communication apprehension, fear of negative evaluation and test anxiety among ESL learners. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting Finance and Management Sciences, 13(2), 218-220. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Zanardi, T., & La Rosa, S. (2023). Learning from a social cognitive theory perspective (pp. 22–35). Elsevier eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-818630-5.14004-7 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Zheng, Y. (2008). Anxiety and Second/Foreign Language Revisited. Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education, 1(1), 1-12. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• A Comparative Study of Adjustment Level, Parental Income and Academic Achievement of Adolescent Girls
• Increase in STIs among Adolescents in Masvingo District
• A Correlation between SDG 4 (Quality Education) and Emotional Disposition of Teacher Educators in Hyderabad District
• Ear Piercing Behaviour and Self-Esteem among Male University Students in Nigeria
• A Study of Religiosity and Psychological Well-Being