scholarly journals Cultural Distance, Acculturative Stress, Functional Social Support, and Psychological Adaptation of International Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariel Ladum ◽  
Gary J. Burkholder
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
International Students ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Cultural Distance ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Psychological Adaptation ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Stress Buffering ◽  
Unmet Expectations

This study examined how cultural distance, acculturative stress, and social support interacted to influence emotional responses among international students studying in the northern part of Cyprus. Acculturation models and the stress-buffering hypothesis served as theoretical frameworks. The research questions involved understanding whether international students experienced more negative emotional responses compared to students from the home culture and whether social support moderated acculturative stress and reactions to being in the northern part of Cyprus. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined differences in emotional reactions between home and international students while hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine the moderation hypotheses. ANOVA results indicated that Turkish-Cypriots had more positive emotional responses than international students to being in the host culture. Results did not support social support as a moderator for either international students’ acculturative stress or their emotional reactions. However, results suggested that unmet expectations, less financial satisfaction, and less social support predicted acculturative stress, while being in a relationship, higher Turkish proficiency, unmet expectations, and higher acculturative stress predicted more negative emotional responses. These results may help universities design programs to support psychological adaptation among international students, which could ultimately facilitate student retention.

scholarly journals The role of internet-based social support network in immigrant settlement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Xiaoping Lin
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
The Government

This is an exploratory study on the roles that internet-based social networks play in supporting immigrants in their settlement process, using NewBridger as an example. This research finds that online social networks are able to provide informational, socio-emotional, and some material and instrumental support to immigrants that help meet their settlement needs. Information passed through NewBridger helps immigrants with employment, housing, education and training, leisure, and daily living related issues. Socio-emotional support helps reduce acculturative stress by fostering a sense of belonging and friendship, and by exchanging expressions of love, care and encouragement. Support for immigrants also takes the form of social capital building. This study concludes that online social support networks are valuable supplement to formal support networks consisting of the government and the non-profit sector. This study builds on the theoretical frameworks of social support, social capital and acculturative stress.

scholarly journals Moderators of Workplace Aggression: The Influences of Social Support and Training

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 32-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie M. Brown ◽  
Jennifer (M.I.) Loh ◽  
Nigel V. Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Perceived Control ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Biophysical Model ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Coping Capacity ◽  
Stress Buffering ◽  
Administrative Employees ◽  
And Training

Reception and administrative employees may be particularly vulnerable to patient aggression in mental health services. This study examined whether satisfaction with social support and primary aggression training moderated the effects of perceived aggression on psychological distress and somatic symptoms in a sample of 101 employees. The biophysical model of threat and challenge, the stressor-stress-strain model, and the stress-buffering hypothesis served as theoretical frameworks. Results showed perceived aggression correlated positively with psychological distress, but not with somatic symptoms. Significant interactions were found for social support (buffering effect) and training (interaction effect) for somatic symptoms, but not for psychological distress. It is suggested that, for somatic symptoms, the moderation effects of social support and training on perceived aggression involve similar mechanisms (increased knowledge, self-esteem, perceived control, coping capacity). These findings provide support for the benefits of staff training and the incorporation of knowledge-based components in training programs.

scholarly journals Contact with Cultural Others – The Friendship Family Programme

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidonie Ecochard ◽  
Kirsteen Wright
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
International Students ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Cultural Exchange ◽  
University Staff ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Uk

The Friendship Family Programme is a cultural exchange initiative piloted this year at Edinburgh Napier University. It is designed to give international students a chance to have first-hand experience of the local culture and way of life, in addition to life on campus. Students are paired with volunteer staff families, who also get the chance to better understand international transitions and learn about the students' home countries and cultures. The programme was grounded in research findings which indicate that social support and friendship with host nationals reduce the acculturative stress and ease the transition of international students. Indeed, international students do not have a full-scale support system in the United Kingdom (UK) and tend to experience loneliness and homesickness during their stay. Meanwhile, the literature also indicates the need for all university staff to understand the background of their students and to be aware of the unique challenges that confront them in the UK. Internationalisation includes mutual cultural awareness and respect. This ‘On the horizon’ piece introduces the Friendship Family Programme and the rationale behind the initiative, along with testimonials from participants.

scholarly journals The role of internet-based social support network in immigrant settlement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Xiaoping Lin
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Networks ◽  
Acculturative Stress ◽  
Online Social Networks ◽  
Support Networks ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
The Government

This is an exploratory study on the roles that internet-based social networks play in supporting immigrants in their settlement process, using NewBridger as an example. This research finds that online social networks are able to provide informational, socio-emotional, and some material and instrumental support to immigrants that help meet their settlement needs. Information passed through NewBridger helps immigrants with employment, housing, education and training, leisure, and daily living related issues. Socio-emotional support helps reduce acculturative stress by fostering a sense of belonging and friendship, and by exchanging expressions of love, care and encouragement. Support for immigrants also takes the form of social capital building. This study concludes that online social support networks are valuable supplement to formal support networks consisting of the government and the non-profit sector. This study builds on the theoretical frameworks of social support, social capital and acculturative stress.

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