PSYCHOMETRIC VALIDATION OF AN INDIGENOUS URDU GLOSSOPHOBIA SCALE (UGS)

Abstract

Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, presents a significant psychological barrier that can negatively affect educational achievement, professional development, and social confidence (Bodie, 2010; McCroskey, 1970). Despite its widespread occurrence, validated tools for assessing glossophobia in Urdu speaking populations are lacking. This study aimed to validate the Urdu Glossophobia Scale (UGS) (Saleem & Mahmood, 2025) for university students. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, the 13-item UGS was psychometrically evaluated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity. The final sample comprised 418 university students (M = 23.4 years, SD = 3.7), with 62% female and 38% male, representing diverse academic disciplines, reflecting typical gender enrollment trends in Pakistani universities. EFA revealed a unidimensional factor structure, consistent with prior research (Bodie, 2010), explaining 55.93% of the variance. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's α = 0.923), and test-retest reliability was strong (r = 0.972, p < .001). Convergent validity with the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (r = 0.75, p < .001) and divergent validity with the Big Five Inventory confirmed the scale’s construct validity. The UGS addresses cultural gaps in existing glossophobia scales, particularly for collectivist, Urdu speaking contexts. The scale's development was previously published (Saleem & Mahmood, 2025).

Keywords: Glossophobia, Urdu Glossophobia Scale, Scale Validation, Fear of Public Speaking, University Students, Psychometrics, Pakistan, Youth.