COPING MECHANISMS TO ENHANCE SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS IN PUBLIC SPEAKING AMONG GRADE 12 STUDENTS AT MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY-SULU

The aim of the study was to investigate the coping mechanisms to enhance self-confidence and skills in public speaking among grade 12 students at Mindanao State University–Sulu. The adapted survey questionnaire was utilized in this study. 280 respondents of grade 12 GAS and STEM students currently enrolled in Mindanao State University-Sulu selected through stratified random sampling. A rating scale and Likert scale survey questionnaire was used to gather the data. The findings revealed that the respondents generally applied the coping mechanisms to improve public speaking skills presented by the researchers. Thus, the researchers concluded that there is a relationship between coping mechanisms and self-confidence and skills in public speaking. Therefore, the researchers recommended that students could enhance their self-confidence and skills in public speaking by practicing, using healthy coping strategies, establishing peer support groups, and utilizing technology and multimedia tools. These strategies can help lessen fear, provide a secure environment for practice, and foster a sense of comfort with public speaking: Future researchers should conduct further studies based on the coping mechanisms to enhance self-confidence and skills in public speaking in different settings: Teachers should use creative techniques to evaluate students' academic performance and encourage self-confidence and public speaking skills, while fostering a secure and motivating classroom environment: Parents should teach their children to communicate with everyone. They should boost their children's confidence level in public speaking. Proper guidance from parents will help the students to enhance their self-confidence and skills in public speaking. Simple linear regression analysis.