A Developmental Sequence Model to University Adjustment of International Undergraduate Students

Abstract

The current study proposes a Developmental Sequence Model to University Adjustment and uses a multifaceted measure, including academic, social and psychological adjustment, to examine factors predictive of undergraduate international student adjustment. A hierarchic regression model is carried out on the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire to examine theoretically pertinent predictors arranged in a developmental sequence in determining adjustment outcomes. This model accounted for over 60% of the variance in adjustment scores, and highlighted the importance of ecological factors in relation to student adjustment, such as social support, relationship with parents, and perceived institutional support as more useful than static measures of achievement such as high school GPA. Implications of these findings, including the important role of campus services, are discussed.

Profile of Problems Faced by Students Attending Counseling Services at Yogyakarta State University

“…Conversely, students who have good social interaction and social support will have lower psychological problems than students who are not supported by their social environment [27]. Social support is an essential factor affecting student performance in higher education [10].…”

How are they doing? University outcomes of international students studying in Canada

“…Included were problems of adjustment to a new culture, discrimination, financial concerns, ill-health, accommodation, food selection, social isolation; and lack academic success (Berry & Kostovcik, 1983;Church, 1982;Klineberg & Hull, 1979;Mickle, 1985). While there are exceptions (De Moissac et al, 2020), more recent research confirms the continued presence of these issues (Calder et al, 2016;Chavoshi et al, 2018;Fletcher & Stren, 1989;Ge et al, 2019;Travares, 2021;Wang, 2016;Westwood & Barker, 1990;Zhang & Noels, 2021;Zhou & Zhang, 2014).…”

“…When proceeding in this fashion, I recognized that adjustment is a multidimensional concept. It can include measures of state of mind, interaction, and living up to personal expectations and those of others (Chavoshi et al, 2018).…”

Experiences of Communication Obstacle of International Students of Northeast Normal University China

“…According to Lee et al (2019), an additional study revealed that while local students do not experience loneliness or homesickness in their host colleges, overseas students do. Furthermore, research indicates that international students' adjustment problems are significantly influenced by factors such as gender, country of origin, and grade/year in school (Chavoshi et al, 2017).…”