This qualitative study explores the detriments of self-doubt on a public speaker’s message, particularly among Filipino senior high school student speakers. Using an exploratory design, the research aimed to understand how self-doubt manifests during the preparation and delivery of a speech, and how it affects message clarity, confidence, and audience reception. Fifteen participants shared their experiences through semi-structured interviews, and thematic analysis revealed that self-doubt operates on both internal and external levels. Internally, it is triggered by fear of judgment, lack of preparation, and negative self-perception, often resulting in overthinking and emotional withdrawal. Externally, it manifests in disorganized delivery, weak persuasive tone, and noticeable nervous behaviors. Despite these challenges, participants reported coping strategies such as positive self-talk, mindfulness, and grounding techniques that helped manage their anxiety. The findings highlight the importance of addressing emotional readiness in public speaking education and call for supportive environments that empower students to overcome internal barriers and communicate with greater clarity and confidence.
Berry et al. (Tue,) studied this question.