International students' communication effectiveness with U.S. faculty members: A further exploration of anxiety/uncertainty management (AUM) theory

This study established a theoretical model based on anxiety/uncertainty management (AUM) theory with English proficiency and knowledge of U.S. culture as indirect factors. A total of 180 international students at a mid-sized Southwestern university participated in surveys regarding the communication process with U.S. faculty. The results revealed that uncertainty and anxiety are positively related, and anxiety negatively predicts communication effectiveness while uncertainty does not. English proficiency is a negative predictor of both uncertainty and anxiety, while knowledge of U.S. culture is not a predictor of either uncertainty or anxiety. The results also indicated that English proficiency and knowledge of U.S. culture are positively correlated, and they are both positive predictors of communication effectiveness. This study offers partial support for AUM theory and suggests strategies for students, faculty and university administrators to increase the communication effectiveness of international students studying at U.S. universities.

Keywords. International Students, Anxiety/Uncertainty Management (AUM) theory, Anxiety, Uncertainty, Communication Effectiveness, Host Language Competence, Knowledge of Host Culture