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Psychological and sociocultural mechanisms of international students

Year 2016, Volume: 41 Issue: 3, 504 - 514, 30.09.2016
https://doi.org/10.17826/cukmedj.237504

Abstract

Purpose: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the various demographic characteristics, psychological and sociocultural mechanisms of international students in accordance with adaptation variables. 
Material and Methods: On the basis of the study, the associations among the psychological adaptation, sociocultural adaptation and perceived discrimination variables were examined. 187 international students from 28 different countries and six different faculties of Celal Bayar University took part as participants. Psychological adaptation examined with life satisfaction scale and sociocultural adaptation examined with Sociocultural Adaptation Scale which was adapted to Turkish in this study.
Results: The results of the study revealed that international students' psychological and sociocultural adaptation was not found to be related. On the other hand, perceived discrimination was found to be positively associated with sociocultural adaptation.
Conclusion: Psychological and sociocultural adaptation of students are not associated with each other. As students perceived discrimination level increases, they have more sociocultural adaptation difficulties.

References

  • OECD. Education indicators in focus. from: 2013;05(April):1–4. http://www.oecd.org/education/skills-beyond- school/EDIF 2013--N%C2%B014 (eng)-Final.pdf (Accessed at 27.01.2016) Available
  • Ergin G, Türk F. Türkiye’de öğrenim gören orta asyalı öğrenciler. Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Dergisi. 2010;2:35–41.
  • Cakir SG. Ego identity status and psychological well- being among Turkish emerging adults. Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research. 2014;14:230–9.
  • Kashima ES, Loh E. International students’ acculturation: effects of international, conational, and local ties and need for closure. Int J Intercult Relations. 2006;30:471–85.
  • Kılıçlar A, Sarı Y, Seçilmiş C. Türk dünyasından gelen öğrencilerin yaşadıkları sorunların akademik başarılarına etkisi: turizm öğrencileri örneği. Bilig. 2012;61:157–72.
  • Otrar M, Ekşi H, Dilmaç B, Şirin A. Türkiye’de öğrenim gören Türk ve akraba topluluk öğrencilerinin stres kaynakları, başaçıkma tarzları ile ruh sağlığı arasındaki ilişki üzerine bir araştırma. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Bilimleri. 2002;2:477– 99.
  • Yakushko O, Watson M, Thompson S. Stress and coping in the lives of recent immigrants and refugees: considerations for counseling. Int J Adv Couns. 2008;30:167–78.
  • Kuo BCH. Coping , acculturation , and psychological adaptation among migrants : a theoretical and empirical review and synthesis of the literature. Heal Psychol Behav Med. 2014;2:16–33.
  • Oguri M, Gudykunst WB. The influence of self construals and communication styles on sojourners’ psychological and sociocultural adjustment. Int J Intercult Relations. 2002;26:577–93.
  • Ward C, Searle W. The impact of value discrepancies and cultural identity on psychological and sociocultural adjustment of sojourners. Int J Intercult Relations. 1991;15:209–24.
  • Yang RP-J, Noels KA, Saumure KD. Multiple routes to cross-cultural adaptation for international students: mapping the paths between self-construals, English language confidence, and adjustment. Int J Intercult Relations. 2006;30:487–506.
  • Abu-Rayya H. Psychological and socio-cultural adaptation of immigrant and national adolescents in Australia: a test of the acculturative stress hypothesis. Am J Appl Psychol. 2013;2:1–6.
  • Ward C, Kennedy A. Acculturation and cross- cultural adaptation of British residents in Hong Kong. J Soc Psychol. 1993;133:395–7.
  • Berry J, Phinney J, Sam D, Vedder P. Immigrant youth: Acculturation, identity, and adaptation. Appl Psychol. 2006;55:303–32.
  • Diener E, Ryan K. Subjective well-being: a general overview. South African J Psychol. 2009;39:391–407.
  • Jasperse M, Ward C, Jose PE. Identity, perceived religious discrimination, and psychological well-being in muslim immigrant women. Appl Psychol. 2012;61:250–71.
  • Searle W, Ward C. The prediction of psychological and sociocultural adjustment during cross-cultural transitions. Int J Intercult Relations. 1990;14:449–64.
  • Ward C, Kennedy A. The measurement of sociocultural relations.1999;23:659–77. Int J Intercult
  • Diener E. Subjective well-being. The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. Am Psychol. 2000;55:34–43.
  • Berry J, Ataca B. Cultural factors in stress. In: Encyclopedia of Stress. Vol. I (Ed. G Fink):604-11. San Diego, CA, Academic Press; 2000.
  • Ward CRF. Personality, cultural intelligence, and cross-cultural adaptation. In: Handbook of cultural intelligence (Ed SLVD Ang):159-73. M.E. Sharpe. 2008.
  • Berry J. Acculturation: Living successfully in two cultures. Int J Intercult relations. 2005;29:697–712.
  • Earley PC, Ang S. Cultural Intelligence: Individual Interactons Across Cultures. Stanford, Stanford University Press, 2003.
  • Ying Y, Lee P a, Tsai JL. Cultural orientation and racial discrimination: predictors of coherence in Chinese American young adults. J Community Psychol. 2000;28:427–41.
  • Matsumoto D. The Handbook of Culture and Psychology. New York, Oxford University Press, 2001.
  • Virta E, Sam DL, Westin C. Adolescents with Turkish background in Norway and Sweden: a comparative study of their psychological adaptation. Scand J Psychol. 2004;45:15–25.
  • Schmitt M. Constructing a minority group identity out of shared rejection: the case of international students. Eur J Soc Psychol. 2003;33:1–12.
  • Diener E, Horwitz J, Emmons R. Happiness of the very wealthy. Soc Indic Res. 1985;16:263–74.
  • Yetim Ü. Life satisfaction: A study based on the organization of personal projects. Soc Indic Res. 1993;29:277–89.
  • Ruggiero K, Taylor D. Coping with discrimination- how disadvantaged group members perceive the discrimination that confronts them. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1995;68:826–38.
  • Baysu G. The Effects of Intergroup Perceptions and Ingroup Identifications on the Political Participation of the Second-Generation Turkish Migrants in the Netherlands. Ankara, Middle East Technical University; 2007.
  • Kıroğlu K, Kesten A, Elma C. Türkiye’de öğrenim gören yabancı uyruklu lisans öğrencilerinin sosyo- kültürel ve ekonomik sorunları. Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2010;6:26–39.
  • Utsey S, Payne Y. Race-related stress, quality of life indicators, and life satisfaction among elderly African Americans. Cult Divers Ethn Minor Psychol. 2002;8:224–233.
  • Mori SC. Addressing the mental health concerns of international students. J Couns Devel. 2000;78:137– 44.
  • Şeker B, Akman E. Farklı ülkelerden üniversite öğrencilerinin psikolojik iyi olma ve yaşam doyumları üzerine bir araştırma. CBÜ Sos Bilim Derg . 2015;13:106–19.
  • Yoon E, Portman T. Critical issues of literature on counseling international students. J Multicult Couns Devel. 2004;32:33-44.
  • Ataca B, Berry JW. Psychological, sociocultural, and marital adaptation of Turkish immigrant couples in Canada. Int J Psychol. 2002;37:13-26.
  • Dion KK, Dion KL. Gender and cultural adaptation
  • in immigrant families.
  • J Soc Issues. 2001;57:511-21.

Uluslararası öğrencilerin psikolojik ve sosyokültürel süreçleri

Year 2016, Volume: 41 Issue: 3, 504 - 514, 30.09.2016
https://doi.org/10.17826/cukmedj.237504

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada uluslararası öğrencilerin çeşitli demografik özellikleri ile psikolojik ve sosyokültürel süreçlerinin uyum değişkenleri ele alınarak incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmada temel olarak psikolojik, sosyokültürel uyum ve algılanan ayrımcılık değişkenleri arasındaki ilişkiler incelenmiştir. Celal Bayar Üniversitesinin altı farklı fakülte ve birimindeki 28 farklı ülkeden gelen 187 uluslararası öğrenci çalışmada katılımcı olarak yer almıştır. Psikolojik uyum yaşam doyumu ölçeği ile sosyokültürel uyum ise bu çalışmada Türkçe’ye uyarlaması gerçekleştirilen sosyokültürel uyum ölçeği kullanılarak incelenmiştir.Bulgular: Çalışma bulguları incelendiğinde psikolojik uyum ve sosyokültürel uyum düzeylerinin anlamlı ilişkisinin olmadığı gözlenmiştir. Öte yandan, algılanan ayrımcılığın sosyokültürel uyumda yaşanan zorlukla pozitif ilişkili olduğu bulunmuştur.Sonuç: Öğrencilerin psikolojik ve sosyokültürel uyum düzeylerinin ilişkili değişkenler olmadığı ve öğrencilerin algılanan ayrımcılık düzeyi arttıkça daha fazla sosyokültürel uyum zorluğu yaşadıkları sonucuna varılmıştır.

References

  • OECD. Education indicators in focus. from: 2013;05(April):1–4. http://www.oecd.org/education/skills-beyond- school/EDIF 2013--N%C2%B014 (eng)-Final.pdf (Accessed at 27.01.2016) Available
  • Ergin G, Türk F. Türkiye’de öğrenim gören orta asyalı öğrenciler. Sosyal ve Beşeri Bilimler Dergisi. 2010;2:35–41.
  • Cakir SG. Ego identity status and psychological well- being among Turkish emerging adults. Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research. 2014;14:230–9.
  • Kashima ES, Loh E. International students’ acculturation: effects of international, conational, and local ties and need for closure. Int J Intercult Relations. 2006;30:471–85.
  • Kılıçlar A, Sarı Y, Seçilmiş C. Türk dünyasından gelen öğrencilerin yaşadıkları sorunların akademik başarılarına etkisi: turizm öğrencileri örneği. Bilig. 2012;61:157–72.
  • Otrar M, Ekşi H, Dilmaç B, Şirin A. Türkiye’de öğrenim gören Türk ve akraba topluluk öğrencilerinin stres kaynakları, başaçıkma tarzları ile ruh sağlığı arasındaki ilişki üzerine bir araştırma. Kuram ve Uygulamada Eğitim Bilimleri. 2002;2:477– 99.
  • Yakushko O, Watson M, Thompson S. Stress and coping in the lives of recent immigrants and refugees: considerations for counseling. Int J Adv Couns. 2008;30:167–78.
  • Kuo BCH. Coping , acculturation , and psychological adaptation among migrants : a theoretical and empirical review and synthesis of the literature. Heal Psychol Behav Med. 2014;2:16–33.
  • Oguri M, Gudykunst WB. The influence of self construals and communication styles on sojourners’ psychological and sociocultural adjustment. Int J Intercult Relations. 2002;26:577–93.
  • Ward C, Searle W. The impact of value discrepancies and cultural identity on psychological and sociocultural adjustment of sojourners. Int J Intercult Relations. 1991;15:209–24.
  • Yang RP-J, Noels KA, Saumure KD. Multiple routes to cross-cultural adaptation for international students: mapping the paths between self-construals, English language confidence, and adjustment. Int J Intercult Relations. 2006;30:487–506.
  • Abu-Rayya H. Psychological and socio-cultural adaptation of immigrant and national adolescents in Australia: a test of the acculturative stress hypothesis. Am J Appl Psychol. 2013;2:1–6.
  • Ward C, Kennedy A. Acculturation and cross- cultural adaptation of British residents in Hong Kong. J Soc Psychol. 1993;133:395–7.
  • Berry J, Phinney J, Sam D, Vedder P. Immigrant youth: Acculturation, identity, and adaptation. Appl Psychol. 2006;55:303–32.
  • Diener E, Ryan K. Subjective well-being: a general overview. South African J Psychol. 2009;39:391–407.
  • Jasperse M, Ward C, Jose PE. Identity, perceived religious discrimination, and psychological well-being in muslim immigrant women. Appl Psychol. 2012;61:250–71.
  • Searle W, Ward C. The prediction of psychological and sociocultural adjustment during cross-cultural transitions. Int J Intercult Relations. 1990;14:449–64.
  • Ward C, Kennedy A. The measurement of sociocultural relations.1999;23:659–77. Int J Intercult
  • Diener E. Subjective well-being. The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. Am Psychol. 2000;55:34–43.
  • Berry J, Ataca B. Cultural factors in stress. In: Encyclopedia of Stress. Vol. I (Ed. G Fink):604-11. San Diego, CA, Academic Press; 2000.
  • Ward CRF. Personality, cultural intelligence, and cross-cultural adaptation. In: Handbook of cultural intelligence (Ed SLVD Ang):159-73. M.E. Sharpe. 2008.
  • Berry J. Acculturation: Living successfully in two cultures. Int J Intercult relations. 2005;29:697–712.
  • Earley PC, Ang S. Cultural Intelligence: Individual Interactons Across Cultures. Stanford, Stanford University Press, 2003.
  • Ying Y, Lee P a, Tsai JL. Cultural orientation and racial discrimination: predictors of coherence in Chinese American young adults. J Community Psychol. 2000;28:427–41.
  • Matsumoto D. The Handbook of Culture and Psychology. New York, Oxford University Press, 2001.
  • Virta E, Sam DL, Westin C. Adolescents with Turkish background in Norway and Sweden: a comparative study of their psychological adaptation. Scand J Psychol. 2004;45:15–25.
  • Schmitt M. Constructing a minority group identity out of shared rejection: the case of international students. Eur J Soc Psychol. 2003;33:1–12.
  • Diener E, Horwitz J, Emmons R. Happiness of the very wealthy. Soc Indic Res. 1985;16:263–74.
  • Yetim Ü. Life satisfaction: A study based on the organization of personal projects. Soc Indic Res. 1993;29:277–89.
  • Ruggiero K, Taylor D. Coping with discrimination- how disadvantaged group members perceive the discrimination that confronts them. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1995;68:826–38.
  • Baysu G. The Effects of Intergroup Perceptions and Ingroup Identifications on the Political Participation of the Second-Generation Turkish Migrants in the Netherlands. Ankara, Middle East Technical University; 2007.
  • Kıroğlu K, Kesten A, Elma C. Türkiye’de öğrenim gören yabancı uyruklu lisans öğrencilerinin sosyo- kültürel ve ekonomik sorunları. Mersin Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2010;6:26–39.
  • Utsey S, Payne Y. Race-related stress, quality of life indicators, and life satisfaction among elderly African Americans. Cult Divers Ethn Minor Psychol. 2002;8:224–233.
  • Mori SC. Addressing the mental health concerns of international students. J Couns Devel. 2000;78:137– 44.
  • Şeker B, Akman E. Farklı ülkelerden üniversite öğrencilerinin psikolojik iyi olma ve yaşam doyumları üzerine bir araştırma. CBÜ Sos Bilim Derg . 2015;13:106–19.
  • Yoon E, Portman T. Critical issues of literature on counseling international students. J Multicult Couns Devel. 2004;32:33-44.
  • Ataca B, Berry JW. Psychological, sociocultural, and marital adaptation of Turkish immigrant couples in Canada. Int J Psychol. 2002;37:13-26.
  • Dion KK, Dion KL. Gender and cultural adaptation
  • in immigrant families.
  • J Soc Issues. 2001;57:511-21.
There are 40 citations in total.

Details

Subjects Health Care Administration
Journal Section Research
Authors

Betül Dilara Şeker

Emine Akman This is me

Publication Date September 30, 2016
Acceptance Date February 23, 2016
Published in Issue Year 2016 Volume: 41 Issue: 3

Cite

MLA Şeker, Betül Dilara and Emine Akman. “Psychological and Sociocultural Mechanisms of International Students”. Cukurova Medical Journal, vol. 41, no. 3, 2016, pp. 504-1, doi:10.17826/cukmedj.237504.

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