Relational solidarity between Americans and Japanese sojourners: Exploring the effect of contact quality, English competency, and communication anxiety

• In Event: Issues in Japan-US conflict management

Abstract

Guided by the intergroup contact hypothesis, the current study examined American college students’ (N = 406) intercultural communication experiences and relational solidarity with their most frequent Japanese contact. Results indicated that the American participants’ quality of contact was negatively associated with intergroup anxiety. Results also indicated that intercultural communication anxiety and accommodation were significantly associated with relational solidarity. Furthermore, intercultural communication anxiety and accommodation mediated the relationship between contact quality and relational solidarity.

Authors

• Makiko Imamura, University of Kansas

• Yan Bing Zhang, University of Kansas