Self-Esteem and Gender as Predictors of Glossophobia Among Lagos State University (FCESPECIAL Oyo) Students

Abstract

The study examine self-esteem and gender as predictor of glossophobia among Lagos State University FCE special, Oyo students. It is pertinent to investigate the effects of Self-esteem and gender as predictors of glossophobia among Lagos state university in affiliation with federal college of Education special, Oyo. This study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Three hundred participants were selected using stratified random sampling technique. The ages of the participants ranged between 19 and 35 years with a mean of 19.47 years (SD= 26.26). Four research questions were tested using linear regression and Multiple regression. The finding revealed that self-esteem significantly predicts glossophobia, F(1, 298) = 48.16, p < .001. Also, gender is a significant predictor of glossophobia, F(1, 298) = 29.59, p < .001. The model accounts for 8.1% of the variance in glossophobia. The females have higher glossophobia scores than males by about 4.32 points. The The multiple regression model shows that self-esteem and gender jointly predict glossophobia, F(2, 297) = 66.87, p < .001, among students. The relative contribution of independent variables on dependent variable was considered: self-esteem (β = -0.431, p < .001), gender (β = 0.256) had significant relative contribution.It is recommended thatthe College of Education counseling centers and student affairs units should develop structured self-esteem enhancement programmes. By equipping students with tools to build their selfworth, institutions can help reduce anxiety related to public speaking and foster a more confident student body.The institutions should design communication training sessions that are sensitive to gender-based anxieties