Abstract
Background: Public speaking anxiety is one of the most common forms of anxiety experienced by university students and can negatively affect academic performance, confidence, and future professional development. Many students experience fear, nervousness, hesitation, and physical symptoms such as trembling and sweating while speaking in front of an audience. Personality traits, particularly introversion and extroversion, influence how students perceive and cope with public speaking situations. Introverted students are often more reserved and self-focused, which may increase their vulnerability to public speaking anxiety, whereas extroverted students tend to be more socially confident. Understanding these differences is essential to support students in developing effective communication skills.
Objective: To assess the level of public speaking anxiety among undergraduate students and to determine the difference in anxiety levels between introvert and extrovert personality types.
Material and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 female undergraduate students at the New Campus of People University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women, Shaheed Benazir Abad. Participants aged 22–25 years were selected using a non-probability sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of demographic information and the Foreign Language Anxiety Scale (FLAS). Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, standard error, and standard deviation were applied, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean age of the students was 22.8±1.958 years. The findings showed that public speaking anxiety was common among participants. More than half of the students 146 (52.1%) experienced a high level of anxiety, while 129 (46.1%) had a moderate level of anxiety. Introverted students demonstrated higher levels of public speaking anxiety compared to extroverted students. Commonly reported symptoms included fear of negative evaluation, nervousness, lack of confidence, and physical discomfort during public.
Conclusion: Public speaking anxiety is highly prevalent among undergraduate students and is significantly influenced by personality traits. Introverted students are more prone to experiencing higher anxiety levels than extroverted students. Early identification, counseling, communication skills training, and supportive educational programs can help reduce anxiety, enhance confidence, and promote effective public speaking skills among students.