Second language identity negotiation and willingness to communicate: the roles of belonging and cross-cultural contact
- 1Henan University of Science and Technology , ,
- 2Jiangsu Normal University , ,
Abstract
Introduction
Although both second language acquisition and cross-cultural psychology have increasingly recognised the importance of learners' identity and intercultural experiences, the psychological mechanisms linking second language (L2) identity negotiation to willingness to communicate (WTC) remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on identity theory and the multi-level model of WTC, this study examined whether sense of belonging mediates the association between L2 identity negotiation and WTC and whether this indirect association varies according to the quality of intercultural contact.Methods
Using cluster sampling, questionnaire data were collected from 468 undergraduate students majoring in Spanish at Chinese universities. A moderated mediation model was tested to examine the mediating role of sense of belonging and the moderating role of intercultural contact quality.Results
The findings indicated that (1) L2 identity negotiation was positively associated with both sense of belonging and willingness to communicate; (2) sense of belonging partially mediated the association between L2 identity negotiation and willingness to communicate; and (3) intercultural contact quality moderated the first stage of the mediation process, such that the positive association between L2 identity negotiation and sense of belonging was stronger among learners reporting higher-quality intercultural contact.Discussion
These findings suggest that sense of belonging represents an important psychological mechanism linking L2 identity negotiation to willingness to communicate and that the quality of intercultural contact strengthens this association. The study extends existing research by integrating identity theory, the WTC framework, and intergroup contact theory, and provides empirical support for identity-oriented and intercultural approaches to Spanish language teaching.
Related
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BibTeX
@article{liang2026second,
title = {{Second language identity negotiation and willingness to communicate: the roles of belonging and cross-cultural contact}},
author = {Lin Liang and Tingting Qiu},
journal = {Frontiers in psychology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1982398},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13725820},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Second language identity negotiation and willingness to communicate: the roles of belonging and cross-cultural contact
AU - Lin Liang
AU - Tingting Qiu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Frontiers in psychology
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1982398
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13725820
AB - Introduction Although both second language acquisition and cross-cultural psychology have increasingly recognised the importance of learners' identity and intercultural experiences, the psychological mechanisms linking second language (L2) identity negotiation to willingness to communicate (WTC) remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on identity theory and the multi-level model of WTC, this study examined whether sense of belonging mediates the association between L2 identity negotiation and WTC and whether this indirect association varies according to the quality of intercultural contact.Methods Using cluster sampling, questionnaire data were collected from 468 undergraduate students majoring in Spanish at Chinese universities. A moderated mediation model was tested to examine the mediating role of sense of belonging and the moderating role of intercultural contact quality.Results The findings indicated that (1) L2 identity negotiation was positively associated with both sense of belonging and willingness to communicate; (2) sense of belonging partially mediated the association between L2 identity negotiation and willingness to communicate; and (3) intercultural contact quality moderated the first stage of the mediation process, such that the positive association between L2 identity negotiation and sense of belonging was stronger among learners reporting higher-quality intercultural contact.Discussion These findings suggest that sense of belonging represents an important psychological mechanism linking L2 identity negotiation to willingness to communicate and that the quality of intercultural contact strengthens this association. The study extends existing research by integrating identity theory, the WTC framework, and intergroup contact theory, and provides empirical support for identity-oriented and intercultural approaches to Spanish language teaching.
SN - 1664-1078
ER -