Language and interpersonal resource predictors of psychological and sociocultural adaptation: International students in Hong Kong

Language and interpersonal resource predictors of psychological and sociocultural adaptation: International students in Hong Kong

• Yu, Baohua The Education University of Hong Kong
• Bodycott, Peter The Education University of Hong Kong
• Mak, Anita S.

Journal of Studies in International Education, 2019

Sage Publications, Inc.

2019

• N Students & Student Services
  • NN Overseas Students in Hong Kong

Acculturation Cross-Cultural Adaptation Intercultural Contact International Student Language Proficiency Perceived Discrimination Psychological Adaptation Sociocultural Adaptation

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Unknown or Unspecified

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. Copyright © 2019 European Association for International Education.

• English

Journal Articles

• 10283153

• 10.1177/1028315318825336

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/55d866ae

2019-06-06