Nice to meet you? Inter/intrapersonal perceptions of communication apprehension in initial interactions

Abstract

This study examines the association between communication apprehension (CA) and self‐esteem in order to determine whether the self‐efficacy component of self‐esteem, is more closely related to CA than the self‐worth component. In addition, how high CAs feel about themselves, how they think their partners see them, and whether the perceptions high CAs have of their own behavior match the appraisals that their partners have of them were also investigated. These data indicate that: 1) Self‐efficacy shared a significant relationship with CA while self‐worth did not, 2) high CAs rated themselves lower on self‐efficacy and self‐worth but were viewed equal to low CAs in both areas and 3) high CAs were rated by their interaction partners as less attractive, less trustworthy, and less satisfying to interact with than low CAs. The results are further discussed in the conclusion of this paper.