Date
8-29-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Natalie A. Hamrick
Keywords
public speaking, anxiety, polyvagal theory, heart rate variability, prayer, The Jesus Prayer, mindfulness, public speaking anxiety, hesychasm, Eastern Orthodoxy, noetic prayer, nepsis, communication anxiety
Disciplines
Communication Sciences and Disorders | Psychology
Recommended Citation
Middleton, Robyn L., "Investigating the Practice of a Somatic, Mindful Christian Prayer and Breathing Practice on Public Speaking Anxiety" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7353.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7353
Abstract
This randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of a mindful Christian prayer practice (The Jesus Prayer) combined with slow diaphragmatic breathing on communication anxiety. Participants (N = 80) included university students and members of the general public aged 18-60 who experience public speaking anxiety. Measurements included self-reported speech anxiety and heart rate variability (assessed via the WellHero app). Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that the mindful prayer practice had no significant effect on participants' self-reported speech anxiety or RMSSD heart rate variability. A statistical trend of lower Baevsky’s Stress Index (another variable WellHero provided) was observed in the intervention group. This was the first RCT investigating the Jesus Prayer’s effect on both self-reported stress and physiologically measured stress resilience (HRV). These findings contradict many similar studies concerning contemplative prayer, deep breathing, and anxiety reduction. Based on the review of contemplative prayer literature and empirical studies on the Jesus Prayer, this study is a good candidate for replication.
