Abstract
Public speaking is important for BSEd students because teaching requires confidence in communication. However, many students experience anxiety during presentations, which may lower their self-confidence. This study aimed to determine whether public speaking anxiety significantly affects the self-confidence of BSEd students at Bestlink College of the Philippines. This study used a descriptive-correlational quantitative design. The respondents were 200 BSEd students selected through purposive stratified sampling. Data were collected using the Public Speaking Anxiety Scale (PSAS) and the Lauster Self-Confidence Scale (LSCS). The data were analyzed using frequency, weighted mean, and Pearson correlation through SPSS. The findings showed that students experienced moderate public speaking anxiety and generally high self-confidence. Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between anxiety and self-confidence, indicating that higher anxiety is associated with lower confidence. The results confirm that public speaking anxiety significantly affects students’ self-confidence. Schools may implement confidence-building activities and anxiety-management strategies to improve students’ communication skills.
