Evaluation of Speaking Self-Efficacy and Social Anxiety in Secondary School Students

Abstract

Speaking skills are an important element in gaining a place in one's community. These skills are very valuable for children as they create their sense of self, try to acquire a social environment for themselves, and participate in social life, allowing them to be more successful, assertive, and self-confident. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between secondary school students' self-efficacy in speaking and social anxiety levels. The research was carried out in Samsun, Turkey, with data collected from four different schools selected by a simple random sampling method. The sample of the study included 595 students who agreed to participate in the research and answered all questions. Data were collected using a sociodemographic data collection form, the Speaking Self-Efficacy Scale for Secondary School Children, and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents. The findings revealed a significant correlation between speaking self-efficacy and the social anxiety levels of the participants. Simple regression analysis showed that the speaking self-efficacy levels of the participants explained 16% of the variance in social anxiety levels (F=113.243, p<0.001). A statistically significant weak inverse relationship was revealed between speaking self-efficacy and social anxiety. Accordingly, it may be beneficial to increase the activities for the development of speaking skills in educational institutions.