Sociocultural Adaptation Among University Students in Hungary: The Case of International Students From Post-Soviet Countries

With the number of international students increasing worldwide, the sociocultural adaptation difficulties that sojourners face should be addressed adequately. This study explored the sociocultural adaptation of international students (N = 267,Mage = 24.5, SD = 4.7) in Hungary. The exploratory factor analysis of the Sociocultural Adaptation Scale yielded five factors: Affiliative Relations, Bureaucracy and Services, Power Relations, Cultural Understanding, and Academic Performance. The students’ countries of origin (post-Soviet countries versus others) and locations of residence (the capital versus small cities) were determinants of sociocultural adaptation. Depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and lower life satisfaction were associated with greater sociocultural adaptation difficulties. Resilient coping was linked with a lower level of difficulties in academic performance (rs = −.20) and cultural understanding (rs = −.15). Our findings supported that the students’ countries of origin, places of residence, and mental health should be considered in improving counseling and educational programs targeting international students.

A Longitudinal Investigation of the Sociocultural Adaptation of Brazilian Students in New Zealand

<p>Global mobility means increasing numbers of individuals are exposed to potentially stressful experiences in their cross-cultural transition. A process of cultural learning is required to overcome differences between host and home culture during sociocultural adaptation. To study this process, this thesis employed a mixed-methods approach examining adaptive trajectory over a six-month educational exchange. The study analysed a unique population of 279 Brazilian high school students from low SES backgrounds arriving in New Zealand. Results from cross-lagged panel models in Study 1 indicated that higher initial ratings of English progress led to subsequent higher levels of interactions with New Zealanders three months after, which then led to higher ratings of language progress at the final time-point. A longitudinal mediation showed interaction with New Zealanders at the mid-point of the sojourn helped explain increased English ability over time. No longitudinal relations were observed for culture shock, indicating the influence of language progress and interactions with host culture on culture shock may vary across populations. In Study 2, we used thematic analysis on students’ open-ended interview responses to examine what their experiences in the new culture were. Three themes were identified: opportunities, difficulties, and general feelings. The identified themes supported the findings of Study 1 and highlighted the crucial role of language and social support during the students’ experiences. Combined, the studies partially confirmed previous research with our unique sample of Brazilian students, and placed further emphasis on the need to sample different populations in the study of adaptation.</p>

A Longitudinal Investigation of the Sociocultural Adaptation of Brazilian Students in New Zealand

<p>Global mobility means increasing numbers of individuals are exposed to potentially stressful experiences in their cross-cultural transition. A process of cultural learning is required to overcome differences between host and home culture during sociocultural adaptation. To study this process, this thesis employed a mixed-methods approach examining adaptive trajectory over a six-month educational exchange. The study analysed a unique population of 279 Brazilian high school students from low SES backgrounds arriving in New Zealand. Results from cross-lagged panel models in Study 1 indicated that higher initial ratings of English progress led to subsequent higher levels of interactions with New Zealanders three months after, which then led to higher ratings of language progress at the final time-point. A longitudinal mediation showed interaction with New Zealanders at the mid-point of the sojourn helped explain increased English ability over time. No longitudinal relations were observed for culture shock, indicating the influence of language progress and interactions with host culture on culture shock may vary across populations. In Study 2, we used thematic analysis on students’ open-ended interview responses to examine what their experiences in the new culture were. Three themes were identified: opportunities, difficulties, and general feelings. The identified themes supported the findings of Study 1 and highlighted the crucial role of language and social support during the students’ experiences. Combined, the studies partially confirmed previous research with our unique sample of Brazilian students, and placed further emphasis on the need to sample different populations in the study of adaptation.</p>

A Dual-Process Motivational Model of Cross-Cultural Adaptation

<p>Past research suggests that immigrants are relatively inclined to maintain their cultural heritage and identity and at the same time engage with host nationals and the host society. However, to my best knowledge, no study has examined whether these 'inclinations' are in fact distinct motivational drives. I argue that the motivational drives of Cultural Maintenance Motivation (MCM) and Cultural Exploration Motivation (MCE) influence acculturation behaviours when individuals immigrate to another country and that these acculturation behaviours in turn impact psychological and sociocultural adaptation. The present research first examines the psychometric properties of scales designed to measure these two motivations in a preliminary study with international students (N = 50), and then investigates a dual-process model based on the relationships between the novel motivations, acculturation behaviours and psychological and sociocultural adaptation in a larger New Zealand migrant sample (N = 280). Results from structural equation modeling largely supported the proposed dual-process model. The findings suggest that MCM predicted psychological adaptation through ethnic peer connections, whereas MCE predicted sociocultural adaptation, which in turn predicted psychological adaptation. Thus the proposed novel motivations have predictive power and contribute to the extant acculturation literature. Implications of the findings for acculturation research, policy makers and migrants are discussed.</p>

Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Cultural Competency Research: The Revision and Expansion of the Sociocultural Adaptation Construct

<p>International migration trends have heralded a marked increase in intercultural contact, creating a greater need for effective cultural competency in both inter- and intra-cultural situations. The current research programme, positioned within the field of acculturation psychology, examined a specific behavioural aspect of cultural competency known as sociocultural adaptation. Defined as an individual’s acquisition and expression of culturally appropriate behavioural skills used to negotiate interactive aspects of a new cultural setting, an in-depth examination of the sociocultural adaptation construct was provided. Three studies addressed issues concerning the review, revision, and expansion of work on the topic of cross-cultural behavioural competency. Study 1 offered a meta-analytic review of the correlates or antecedents of sociocultural adaptation. Results emphasised the importance of individual differences, such as personality characteristics and motivation, in relation to adaptation difficulties. Suggestions were also provided for future theoretical and applied research regarding how demographic (e.g, age, gender), situational (e.g., language proficiency), and individual differences (e.g., cross-cultural empathy) components relate to and influence an individual’s successful cross-cultural adjustment. Study 2 examined the operationalisation of behavioural competency through revision of an existing measure of sociocultural adaptation (the Sociocultural Adaptation Scale or SCAS) and investigated five adjustment domains: Ecological, interpersonal, personal interests and community involvement, language, and professional/work adjustment. The final study sought to corroborate the factor structure of the revised SCAS and explored the effects of migration motivation and perceived discrimination—two underrepresented variables in the acculturation literature—in relation to cross-cultural adjustment using path analysis techniques. Direct linkages were found between migration motivation and positive psychological outcomes, and behavioural competency and discrimination were found to have significant mediating effects on the relationship between these two variables. The limitations and contributions of these studies are discussed in relation to the existing acculturation psychology literature, and new avenues for theoretical and applied applications of the findings are suggested.</p>

A Dual-Process Motivational Model of Cross-Cultural Adaptation

<p>Past research suggests that immigrants are relatively inclined to maintain their cultural heritage and identity and at the same time engage with host nationals and the host society. However, to my best knowledge, no study has examined whether these 'inclinations' are in fact distinct motivational drives. I argue that the motivational drives of Cultural Maintenance Motivation (MCM) and Cultural Exploration Motivation (MCE) influence acculturation behaviours when individuals immigrate to another country and that these acculturation behaviours in turn impact psychological and sociocultural adaptation. The present research first examines the psychometric properties of scales designed to measure these two motivations in a preliminary study with international students (N = 50), and then investigates a dual-process model based on the relationships between the novel motivations, acculturation behaviours and psychological and sociocultural adaptation in a larger New Zealand migrant sample (N = 280). Results from structural equation modeling largely supported the proposed dual-process model. The findings suggest that MCM predicted psychological adaptation through ethnic peer connections, whereas MCE predicted sociocultural adaptation, which in turn predicted psychological adaptation. Thus the proposed novel motivations have predictive power and contribute to the extant acculturation literature. Implications of the findings for acculturation research, policy makers and migrants are discussed.</p>

Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Cultural Competency Research: The Revision and Expansion of the Sociocultural Adaptation Construct

<p>International migration trends have heralded a marked increase in intercultural contact, creating a greater need for effective cultural competency in both inter- and intra-cultural situations. The current research programme, positioned within the field of acculturation psychology, examined a specific behavioural aspect of cultural competency known as sociocultural adaptation. Defined as an individual’s acquisition and expression of culturally appropriate behavioural skills used to negotiate interactive aspects of a new cultural setting, an in-depth examination of the sociocultural adaptation construct was provided. Three studies addressed issues concerning the review, revision, and expansion of work on the topic of cross-cultural behavioural competency. Study 1 offered a meta-analytic review of the correlates or antecedents of sociocultural adaptation. Results emphasised the importance of individual differences, such as personality characteristics and motivation, in relation to adaptation difficulties. Suggestions were also provided for future theoretical and applied research regarding how demographic (e.g, age, gender), situational (e.g., language proficiency), and individual differences (e.g., cross-cultural empathy) components relate to and influence an individual’s successful cross-cultural adjustment. Study 2 examined the operationalisation of behavioural competency through revision of an existing measure of sociocultural adaptation (the Sociocultural Adaptation Scale or SCAS) and investigated five adjustment domains: Ecological, interpersonal, personal interests and community involvement, language, and professional/work adjustment. The final study sought to corroborate the factor structure of the revised SCAS and explored the effects of migration motivation and perceived discrimination—two underrepresented variables in the acculturation literature—in relation to cross-cultural adjustment using path analysis techniques. Direct linkages were found between migration motivation and positive psychological outcomes, and behavioural competency and discrimination were found to have significant mediating effects on the relationship between these two variables. The limitations and contributions of these studies are discussed in relation to the existing acculturation psychology literature, and new avenues for theoretical and applied applications of the findings are suggested.</p>

Scoping Out Elements of Sociocultural Adaptation in European Urban Agriculture

This paper explores and sheds light on the elements, complexity, and dynamics of sociocultural adaptation to innovation and climate change in European Urban Agriculture. We use a scoping-exploratory review to search and unveil elements of sociocultural adaptation (SCA) in the existing literature on European urban agriculture. We categorize these elements into three main categories. This categorization can inform and be further explored, operationalized, and developed in new case-study-based research and serve as a starting point to better understand social adaptation to innovation and climate change in urban contexts, and beyond. Key results draw attention to (a) socio-technical and socio-ecological innovations as critical to sociocultural adaptation to innovation and climate change (b) some elements of SCA identified through the scoping review seem more central than others for the adaption process (c) we are left with the question of whether we need to bridge social science with biology sciences, such as human behavioral biology and neurobiology to find the answer to deeper questions about SCA.

The Influence of Acculturation Strategies, Ethnic Identity and Cultural Distance on the Socio-cultural Adaptation of Arab Students

Background. Adaptation to the educational space of a university is a process that is a prerequisite and a way of socialization, allowing international students to actively engage in various elements of the social environment. This process can be made more complicated as a result of existing linguistic, every day, climatic, intercultural, interethnic, and motivational barriers. This research studies the relationship between acculturation strategies, socio-cultural adaptation, ethnic identity, cultural distance among students from arabic countries (Morocco, Syria, Egypt).Methods. The questionnaire included scales for assessing acculturation attitudes, ethnic identity, cultural distance, and sociocultural adaptation. The following techniques were used during the study: methodology of J. Finney, measuring the severity of ethnic identity (Phinney, 1992; Phinney & Ong, 2007), scales for measuring cultural distance (Wark & Galliher, 2007), questionnaire measuring acculturation strategies for migrants (Berry, 1997; Berry, 2005), scales for measuring sociocultural adaptation (Ward, Kennedy, 1999). The overall number of respondents was 248 (56 from Syria, 84 from Egypt, 108 from Morocco). The average age of the respondents is 28 years (min – 20, max – 34 years).Conclusion. Using correlation and regression analysis, we found that cultural distance is interconnected with sociocultural adaptation. However, among young migrants from arabic countries,ethnic identity and acculturation strategies are not linked to sociocultural adaptation. As a whole, our research shows the specific of adaptation of young arabs in relation to their host country.

Alien’s exclusion vs Other’s inclusion

Researched are some theoretical foundations of inclusive and exclusive strategies. The study is based on culturological and anthropological (sociocultural anthropology) research tools and views as well as on axiological and cultural-semiotic approaches. It is shown that inclusive / exclusive strategies are connected with perception of groups and individuals as Alien / Other. Three aspects of the issue are investigated: forming of different types of attitude towards Alien / Other in history retrospective and specificities of their existence in postmodern post-industrial society and culture; axiological base of forming of alienation as depreciation and the problem of overcoming it; actuality of sociocultural adaptation of “majorities” to Others’ presence. The author concludes that the “Alien” and “Other” division is productive for deeper understanding of what exclusion and inclusion are and how they work. Inclusiveness is shown as a factor of adaptation and a criteria of societies’ adaptability to polysemiotic feature of postmodern (meta)culture, filled with Others’ cultures. Exclusion is shown as the protective mechanism, embodied in Other’s depreciation, displacement and turning Other into Alien.