No abstract

This study used the consensual qualitative research method (Hill, 2015) and examined the adaptation process of 15 Turkish international students at different German universities. The results of this study yielded four primary domains of adaptation experiences: perceptions of Germany, adaptation challenges, the contributing factors in adaptation experiences, and attitudes toward counseling services. Implications for counseling practice and future directions are discussed in light of the results of this study.

Cross-cultural adaptation is a process that can varies according to the host culture in which international students study. With that in mind, this dissertation examined and compared the adaptation experiences of Turkish international students (TIS) who have the same cultural background but study in three different cultures. A total of three studies were conducted for this purpose. The first study using the consensual qualitative research method (Hill, 2015) focused on the adaptation process of TIS at different German universities. As the first research on how TIS sojourning in Germany for educational purposes experience crosscultural adaptation, this study focuses on their adaptation experience in Germany, taking into account the cultural and educational backgrounds of TIS. The study's findings showed the impact of disparaging stereotypes and discrimination aimed at a large community of immigrants from the same country. Also highlighted were the sharply different experiences of TIS in the safe, supportive, enabling, institutional, on-campus context on the one hand, and the more challenging, discriminative, larger off-campus, host-society context on the other.The second study using the case study approach focused on the adaptation experiences of TIS, in two different cultures: Hungary and the United States. This is the first study to investigate both the cross-cultural adaptation of TIS in Hungary and the first comparative study on TIS' adaptation experiences in different countries. The findings of this study showed that, when compared to their co-nationals studying in an English-speaking country, TIS studying in Hungary -a country which offers English medium instruction programs -faced some serious difficulties such as in-school separation from local students However, due to a shared historical background between Hungarians and Turks, TIS in Hungary have experienced many cultural similarities in their relations and daily lives unlike TIS in the United States. The perceived low cultural distance between Hungary and Turkey positively affected their cross-cultural adaptation process. Whereas, TIS in the United States experienced stress that hindered adaptation due to certain political developments in the United States and their political relations with Turkey.The third study, in which data was collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis focused on the adjustment challenges and help-seeking of TIS studying at various universities in the United States during their crosscultural adaptation process. The results suggested that TIS experienced several adjustment challenges that affected their general well-being and satisfaction and made their adjustment process harder. According to the results, TIS initially sought help from family members, advisors, or friends to overcome their adjustment challenges. Dissatisfaction among TIS due TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .

The present qualitative inquiry examined adjustment challenges and help seeking among 15 Turkish international students (TIS) studying at various universities in the United States during their cross-cultural adjustment process. Data were gathered by means of semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The results suggested that TIS experienced several adjustment challenges that affected their general well-being and satisfaction and made their adjustment process harder. According to the results, TIS initially sought help to overcome their adjustment challenges from family members, advisors, or friends. Dissatisfaction among TIS due to a lack of cultural sensitivity on the part of mental health providers negatively affected the students' help seeking from professional services. The findings of the present study may help mental health providers to address the needs of TIS effectively as a specific cultural group in multicultural settings in the United States.