The Effects Of Intergroup Contact Between International And Native University Students In China

This study addressed three areas in intergroup contact research:contact valence asymmetry,group status and mediation through intergroup anxiety.Positive versus negative contact effects on two outcome variables were investigated and compared between native and international students in Chinese universities.At the same time,cross-group friendship between these two groups was measured and compared.A sample of 332 international(minority)and 747 native(majority)students completed questionnaires on their intergroup contact with each other.Results showed that international students experienced more positive and negative contact with native students than native students' contact with international students.Positive contact's effects were generally stronger for native students,except on outgroup attitude where effects were comparable.Negative contact effects on outgroup attitude were stronger for international students;for contact intention,the relationship was not significant.Positive contact emerged as the stronger predictor of intention for both groups.Negative contact was the stronger predictor of attitude for international students.Positive contact was the stronger predictor of attitude for native students.Intergroup anxiety mediated all relationships for native students.For international students,mediation was only observed for the relationships between positive and negative contact and contact intention.Results highlight the importance of considering both positive and negative contact as well as group status when studying intergroup relations.