Avoidance in Intercultural Work Contexts: Predictors and Mediators

Abstract

Inter-group research suggests that people are more likely to avoid culturally dissimilar others than to approach them (Pettigrew, 1998). Given that avoidance of co-workers can have detrimental consequences, our research seeks to examine factors that will mitigate avoidance of culturally dissimilar others. Adopting the novel lens of affective events theory, we argue that language and cultural differences constitute two major sources of negative affect during intercultural interactions. Accordingly, we propose that individuals’ language self-efficacy and cultural intelligence (CQ) will independently and jointly reduce avoidance behaviors. Further, these effects are mediated by interpersonal negative affect. We tested the model in two time-lagged field studies. In Study 1, we tested the hypothesized main and joint effects with 108 household service workers. Findings supported a joint effect, where language self-efficacy had a negative effect on avoidance only when CQ is high. In Study 2, we tested the full mediated moderation model based on 391 intercultural dyads in multicultural teams. Results of social relations modeling analyses replicated the joint effect of language self-efficacy and CQ on avoidance found in Study 1. Further, the joint effect was fully mediated by interpersonal negative affect. We discuss the implications of these findings for theory and practice.