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Publication Date

Fall 2011

Degree Type

Thesis - Campus Access Only

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Sharon Glazer

Keywords

acculturation, acculturation strategy, nationality, sex, socio-cultural adaptation, value congruence

Subject Areas

Psychology; Social psychology; Educational psychology

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between international students' socio-cultural adaptation with acculturation strategy and value congruence (between personal values and both perceived home country values and perceived U.S. values). Further, the study compared 173 U.S. with 152 Asian international students on the above study variables. No differences between the two populations on socio-cultural adaptation were found. There were also no differences based on sex. However, the interaction effect of nationality and sex on socio-cultural adaptation reached significance. For international students, acculturation strategy related to congruence between self and perceived home country values as well as self and perceived U.S. values of conformity, tradition, and power. In addition, findings of this study suggested that identification with USA and value congruence with USA on benevolence, security, and self-direction values were related to socio-cultural adaptation. However, the variables accounted for only a small degree of variance in socio-cultural adaptation, indicating that other variables should be taken into account when explaining international student socio-cultural adaptation.

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