The Role of Meeting Size in Attendees’ Psychological Response and Consequence Behavior: A Social Anxiety Approach

Abstract

This research was to examine the effects of meeting size on attendee experience at association meetings. From perspectives of social anxiety, this research investigates how meeting size influences attendees’ social anxiety levels; how attendees’ perceived self-esteem and group identity at meetings moderate the effects of meeting size on social anxiety; and how attendees’ perceived social anxiety influences their satisfaction with meeting attendance and perceived return-on-investment (ROI) of the meeting. With a survey of 470 attendees, results showed that the bigger the meetings are, the less social anxiety attendees will feel. The impact of meeting size is further moderated by self-esteem and group identity. Furthermore, attendees’ felt social anxiety negatively affects their meeting satisfaction and perceived ROI of the meeting. Theoretical and practical contributions of the research are discussed.