The effects of manipulating flashforward imagery vividness and distress on speech anxiety and avoidance

Zaan, Joan (2023) The effects of manipulating flashforward imagery vividness and distress on speech anxiety and avoidance. Master thesis, Psychology.

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Abstract

Speech anxiety is common, incites significant distress, and is relatively difficult to treat. An interesting area for treatment innovation is imagery manipulation since the target group is likely to engage in negative flashforward mental imagery, which impacts anxiety and avoidance. This research aims to investigate whether manipulation of flashforward speech anxiety imagery, thereby reducing its vividness and distress, results in a decrease in speech anxiety and avoidance. An experimental study was set up including 134 female participants with high speech anxiety and flashforward imagery pertaining to this engaging in an impromptu speech task, with the experimental condition participating in a visuospatial dual task to manipulate flashforward imagery vividness and distress beforehand, and the control group not participating in any form of imagery manipulation. Speech anxiety and avoidance were reported by participants and observers as experienced and observed ahead of and during the speech task, with baseline state anxiety and avoidance controlling its statistical relation. Differences between the experimental and control condition were analyzed; no significant effects were found of imagery manipulation on speech anxiety and avoidance as reported and observed ahead of and during the speech task. A manipulation check revealed that imagery manipulation was only partly successful; the difference in imagery-related vividness between conditions was found not to be significant. Further possibly adapted research successful in manipulating flashforward speech imagery vividness and distress may have new implications for treatment innovation for speech anxiety and avoidance. Keywords: speech anxiety and avoidance, flashforward imagery, imagery-related vividness and distress, imagery manipulation, visuospatial dual task

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Supervisor name:	Thunnissen, M.R. and Nauta, M.H.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology]
Date Deposited:	20 Mar 2023 10:07
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2023 10:07
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1812

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