Don't Drink and Speak: The Relationships among Alcohol Use, Practice, Motivation, Anxiety, and Speech Performance

Abstract

A diary study was conducted for five days prior to a speech to determine whether there was a relationship among motivation, trait speech anxiety, practice, alcohol consumption, and speech performance. Practice and motivation were positively correlated. Speech performance was negatively correlated with alcohol consumed. Motivation and anxiety were negatively correlated. As the speech event approached, motivation and practice increased and alcohol use decreased. Using average motivation, average anxiety, total practice, and total alcohol consumption as predictors of speech performance, alcohol use was the only significant predictor (negative). Alcohol consumption was a more compelling predictor of speech performance than traditional variables.

Keywords:

• Alcohol
• Anxiety
• Drinking
• Motivation
• Performance
• Planning
• Practice
• Preparation
• Public Speaking

Notes

^∗ p < .05

^† p < .01.

^∗ p < .05,

^† p < .01.

^∗ p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Roberta King Mitchell

Roberta King Mitchell (Ph.D., Northwestern University, 2003) is an assistant Professor in Justice Studies

C. Leigh Nelson

C. Leigh Nelson (Ph.D., Purdue University, 2000) is an assistant Professor in Communication Studies, both at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807.