Self-Regulatory Focus as a Mediator of the Effect of Culture on State Communication Apprehension: A Japan-China-US Comparison

Abstract

Japanese, Chinese, and American university students were compared regarding their communication apprehension across situational contexts (teacher and stranger). Self-regulatory focus (promotion and prevention foci) was investigated to see if they affect state communication apprehension, and the mediation role of self-regulatory focus on the relationship between culture and state communication apprehension was probed. A survey was conducted to collect a total of 943 samples from Japan (N = 267), China (N = 367), and the United States (N = 309). The results indicated significant differences among Japanese, Chinese, and Americans in their state communication apprehension and self-regulatory focus. Students in these three countries differentiated their anxiety more toward interpersonal status discrepancy. Promotion and prevention foci affected state communication apprehension and mediated the effect of culture on anxiety with communication targets. Discussion on self-regulatory focus as an explanatory framework for communication apprehension was raised.

Keywords

Culture / promotion focus / prevention focus / state communication apprehension

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