The Relationship among Intercultural Communication Apprehension, Ethnocentrism, Uncertainty Reduction, and Communication Satisfaction during Initial Intercultural Interaction: An Extension of Anxiety and Uncertainty Management (AUM) Theory

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an examination of the relationship among intercultural communication apprehension, ethnocentrism, uncertainty reduction, and communication satisfaction during initial intercultural interaction. Poised within the theoretical assumptions of Anxiety and Uncertainty Management (AUM) Theory hypotheses are forwarded predicting that intercultural communication apprehension and ethnocentrism would negatively affect uncertainty reduction and communication satisfaction during initial intercultural encounters. In the first phase of the study, participants (N = 107) completed measures of intercultural communication apprehension and ethnocentrism. Replicating procedures of earlier uncertainty reduction research, participants in intercultural dyads (i.e., experimental group) and intracultural dyads (i.e., control group) were instructed to become acquainted. After a specified period of time, the dyads were separated and participants completed measures of uncertainty reduction and communication satisfaction. Correlational and regression analyses indicate that, for the experimental group, measures of intercultural communication apprehension and ethnocentrism were significantly and negatively correlated with measures of uncertainty reduction and communication satisfaction. For the control group, measures of intercultural communication apprehension and ethnocentrism were not correlated with measures of uncertainty reduction or communication satisfaction. Results are discussed within the parameters of AUM.