Assessment of diet in relation to public speaking anxiety

Abstract

Public speaking is an important skill that can positively influence an individuals’ everyday life, career, relationships and much more; yet, it has been consistently ranked as one of the top fears in the United States over the past five decades. Recent studies into the role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis has discovered a direct link between gut microbiota and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) reactivity, suggesting new ways of thinking regarding the prevention and treatment of anxiety such as public speaking anxiety. Among the factors that influence the composition of the gut microbiota, diet is considered the single most critical one. Against this backdrop, the proposed study aims to compare the anxiety level in public speaking and the dietary choices of adults aged between 18 and 55. It assesses the hypotheses: (a) individuals on a plant-based diet experience lower levels of anxiety associated with public speaking than those on a Western diet; (b) a higher intake of prebiotic and probiotic foods is associated with a lower level of public speaking anxiety among individuals on a Western diet. Implications of the findings for diet in relation to public speaking anxiety will be discussed.