The measure of falar in public: a pilot study of glossophobia in the contexto of university students

Fear of public speaking (glossophobia) is considered a factor of great anxiety and stress and affects a high percentage of people, being considered a psychosocial stressor, which can lead to isolation and thus prevent the individual from communicating. This work aims to evaluate the real impact of glossophobia on students, in the academic and professional context, at a psychological, emotional and physical level. The results will be presented through an empirical pilot study, carried out on a sample of 33 university students from the 3rd year psychology course at the Autonomous University of Lisbon. Once the results were verified, an intervention plan was considered to minimize the negative impact, leading to an increase of the confidence and quality of life of the students.