An Examination of the Relationship Between Undergraduate Students' Personality Traits, Family Communication Patterns, Communication Skills, and Speaking Anxiety

This study investigates the relationship between undergraduate students' speaking anxiety and their personality traits, family communication patterns, and communication skills. A total of 775 undergraduate students studying in 6 different faculties at a state university on the northeastern Türkiye participated in the research. The data was gathered using Demographic Information Form, Speech Anxiety Scale, Family Communication Patterns Scale, Communication Skills Scale and Personality Traits Scale. A multiple linear regression analysis was computed. The results indicate that the predictor variables accounted for at least 45% of the variance in speech anxiety. Extroversion (β = -.46), conscientiousness (β = -.11), openness to experience (β = -.11) personality traits and communication skills (β = -.15) variables predicted speech anxiety negatively, while neurotic personality traits (β = .11) and conformity-oriented family communication patterns (β = .11) were found to be positive significant predictors for the dependent variable of speech anxiety. The results of the study highlight the need for future research to examine the cognitive, affective and behavioral components of speaking anxiety separately.