Date of Award

12-1996

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication

First Advisor

Randall A. Rose

Second Advisor

Deborah Smith-Howell

Third Advisor

Kris Berg

Abstract

This thesis explored whether adhering to an exercise program could significantly predict an individual’s level of communication apprehension (CA). The project expands the study o f CA by analyzing a potentially new treatment option for alleviating this fear of communication. Specifically, it asked if an individual’s level o f exercise adherence (EA) - as measured by the four components of intensity, frequency, duration, and longevity - could significantly predict an individual’s level CA in each o f the four contexts - interpersonal conversations, group discussion, meetings and public speaking - and overall. Five research questions were posited (one for each context and trait) and tested utilizing the Personal Report o f Communication Apprehension instrument (McCroskey, 1982) and an EA measure. Due to the study’s exploratory nature demographics such as age and gender were also examined in supplemental analyses. Results using SPSS-X stepwise multiple regression, Pearson r correlations and Deviations of Linearity indicated partial support that a significant linear relationship exists between three o f the EA components and four o f the five CA scores, and a significant deviation from linearity relationship exists between one demographic variable and three of the five CA scores. Discussion and interpretation of results as well as recommendations for future research are given.

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Department of Communication and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment o f the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University o f Nebraska at Omaha.

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