scholarly journals Cross-cultural Adaptation of International College Students in the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 821-842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yikang Wang ◽  
Ting Li ◽  
Amity Noltemeyer ◽  
Aimin Wang ◽  
Kevin Shaw
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Culture Shock ◽  
Psychological Adaptation ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
Important Concern ◽  
International College

The number of international students attending U.S. colleges and universities has increased considerably over the past decade, and the adaptation of these students is an important concern in cross-cultural research. Using survey data collected from a sample of 169 international students attending a U.S. university, this study examines the temporal patterns of students’ psychological and socio-cultural adaptation. Theresults suggest a two-phase U-curved process of psychological adaptation, with the most obvious culture shock occurring during a student’s first nine to 24 months of residence. Socio-cultural adaptation is found to increase steadily over time, without significant retreat. Interpretations, implications, and limitations of the findings are provided.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation: The Impact of Online Social Support and the Role of Gender

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Wang ◽  
Jian-Zhong Hong ◽  
Zhong-Ling Pi
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
International Students ◽  
Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Psychological Adaptation ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Online Social Support ◽  
Cross Cultural Adaptation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

We examined the impact of online social support on cross-cultural adaptation, and the moderating effect of gender in the relationship between online social support and cross-cultural adaptation. Data were collected from 454 international students in China using the Psychological Adaptation Questionnaire, the Socio-Cultural Adaptation Scale, and the Online Social Support Scale. The results showed that: (a) online social support had a positive impact on both the psychological and sociocultural adaptation of the international students, and (b) compared with the men, the impact of online social support on psychological adaptation was more significant for the women, showing that gender moderated this relationship. However, the same moderating effect of gender was not found in the relationship between online social support and sociocultural adaptation.

scholarly journals ASSESSING CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN IIUM

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (14) ◽  
pp. 47-63
Author(s):  
Hassan Radwan Jamal ◽  
Saodah Wok
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Culture Shock ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Cross Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Clash Of Cultures ◽  
Host Nation

In today’s world, many international students from other countries arriving at the host nation are exposed to a wide range of local cultures and values. Malaysia, being a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural country, is put in a unique position that attracts many international students and foreigners alike. Regardless, many international students experience a clash of cultures between their own and the host’s culture, which if not dealt with could have detrimental effects on areas such as studies, social-circles, and self-esteem. Therefore, this study explored the challenges that both undergraduate and postgraduate international students of IIUM encounter when arriving in Malaysia. This study employed a quantitative research design, using the survey method with a questionnaire as the research instrument for data collection. In this study, students aged 21 years old and above were surveyed. This study was based on the theory of cross-cultural adaptation, using the U-curve model that displays each stage of adaptation every student goes through. The findings demonstrated that the cultural stage of adaptation had a positive relationship with the cultural stage of euphoria, the cultural stage of culture shock, and the cultural stage of adjustment. Based on the theory of cross-cultural adaptation as a guide, all the hypotheses were supported in which all relationships were found to be positive and significant.

Suicidal Ideation Among International Students: The Role of Cultural, Academic, and Interpersonal Factors

2021 ◽  
pp. 001100002110024
Author(s):  
Andrés E. Pérez Rojas ◽  
Na-Yeun Choi ◽  
Minji Yang ◽  
Theodore T. Bartholomew ◽  
Giovanna M. Pérez
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Thwarted Belongingness ◽  
Perceived Burdensomeness ◽  
Using Data

We examined two structural equation models of international students’ suicidal ideation using data from 595 international students in two public universities in the United States. The models represented competing hypotheses about the relationships among discrimination, cross-cultural loss, academic distress, thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and suicidal ideation. The findings indicated there were direct, positive links between discrimination, cross-cultural loss, and academic distress to perceived burdensomeness; a direct, positive link between perceived burdensomeness and suicidal ideation; and indirect, positive links between discrimination, cross-cultural loss, and academic distress to suicidal ideation via perceived burdensomeness. The only predictors that related to thwarted belongingness were cross-cultural loss and academic distress, and there were no indirect links to suicidal ideation via thwarted belongingness. In fact, with all other variables in the model, thwarted belongingness was unrelated to suicidal ideation. Finally, academic distress was directly related to suicidal ideation. We discuss implications of the findings.

scholarly journals International Students from Melbourne Describing Their Cross-Cultural Transitions Experiences: Culture Shock, Social Interaction, and Friendship Development

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nish Belford
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
International Students ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Culture Shock ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Relational Identity ◽  
Intercultural Communication Competence ◽  
Friendship Development ◽  
Cultural Transitions ◽  
Cultural Similarity

Drawing from a study that explored how international students experience cross-cultural transitions after living and studying in Melbourne for a few years, this paper, in particular, examines the participants' experiences with culture shock, social interaction, and friendship development. The findings include narratives of their personal stories and perspectives on social engagement and friendship ties with a particular focus on variables including cultural similarity, intercultural communication competence, intercultural friendship, and relational identity to influence their experiences.

Language and Interpersonal Resource Predictors of Psychological and Sociocultural Adaptation: International Students in Hong Kong

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 572-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baohua Yu ◽  
Peter Bodycott ◽  
Anita S. Mak
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
International Students ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Cultural Adaptation ◽  
Stress And Coping ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Sociocultural Adaptation ◽  
Cross Cultural Adaptation ◽  
And Coping

Hong Kong, along with other Asian societies with universities with top world rankings, has in recent years attracted an increasing number of international students, mainly from Asia. Previous research in English-speaking Western countries has indicated the importance of resources, including language proficiency, positive intergroup relations, and social support, in understanding international students’ stress and coping in cross-cultural adaptation. Guided by a similar acculturative stress and coping framework, we investigated predictors of psychological and sociocultural adaptation in a survey sample of 726 international students (62% female and 73% Asian-born) from Hong Kong public universities. We found that English language proficiency, social support, and a low level of perceived discrimination fostered both types of cross-cultural adaptation, while contact with local students and proficiency in the local dialect further enhanced sociocultural adaptation. Implications for future acculturation research and higher education internationalization policies and practices are discussed.

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