The prediction of psychological and sociocultural adjustment during cross-cultural transitions

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Abstract

This study attempts empirically to distinguish psychological and sociocultural forms of adjustment during the process of cross-cultural transitions. One hundred and five sojourners (Malaysian and Singaporean students in New Zealand) completed a questionnaire which examined psychological well-being (depression) and sociocultural competence (social difficulty) in relationship to the following variables: expected difficulty, cultural distance, quantity and quality of social interactions with both host and fellow nationals, attitudes towards hosts, extraversion, life changes and personal variables such as age, sex, length of residence in New Zealand, cross-cultural training, and previous cross-cultural experiences. Multiple regression analysis was employed to construct predictive models of psychological and sociocultural adjustment. Satisfaction with relationships with host nationals, extraversion, life changes, and social difficulty combined to account for 34% of the variance in psychological adjustment. Cultural distance, expected difficulty, and depression combined to account for 36% of the variance in sociocultural adjustment. It was concluded that although psychological and sociocultural adjustment are interrelated, there is a need to regard these factors as conceptually distinct.

Résumé

Cette étude vise à établir une distinction empirique entre l'adaptation psychologique et l'adaptation socio-culturelle à un nouvel environnement culturel. Cent cinq étudiants étrangers, de Malaysia et de Singapour, séjournant en Nouvelle-Zélande, ont rempli un questionnaire qui examinait le bien-être psychologique (dépression) et la compétence socio-culturelle (difficultés sociales) en fonction des variables suivantes : difficultés anticipées, distance culturelle, quantité et qualité des rapports sociaux avec les hôtes et les compatriotes, attitudes à l'égard des hôtes, extraversion, changements de situation (familiale, professionnelle) et variables personnelles telles l'âge, le sexe, la durée du séjour en Nouvelle-Zélande, la formation trans-culturelle et d'autres expériences trans-culturelles. L'analyse multivariée a été utilisée pour construire des modèles prédictifs de l'adaptation psychologique et socio-culturelle. En ce qui concerne l'adaptation psychologique, 34% de la variance s'explique par le niveau de satisfaction des rapports avec les hôtes, l'extraversion, les changements de situatin et les difficultés sociales. Quant à l'adaptation socio-culturelle, 36% de la variance s'explique par la distance culturelle, les difficultés anticipées et la dépression. On conclut que l'adaptation psychologique et l'adaptation socio-économique, quoique reliées entre elles, doivent être considérées comme distinctes sur le plan conceptuel. (author-supplied abstract).

Resumen

Este estudio intenta distinguir empiricamente formas de ajustamiento sicologicas y socio-culturales durante el proceso de transiciones culturales. Ciento y cinco residentes temporales (estudiantes Malasianos y Singaporeanos en Nueva Zelandia) completaron un cuestionario el cual examine bien estar sicologica (depresión) y competencia socio-cultural (dificultad social) en relación a los siguientes variables: dificultad esperado, distancia cultural, cantidad y calidad de interacciones con huespedes nacionales y compatriotas, attitudes hacia huespedes, extraversión, cambios en vida y variables personales como edad, sexo, duracion de residencia en Nueva Zelandia, educacion de atravesar culturas y previas experiencias de transiciones culturales. Análisis de regresión multiple fue usado para construir modelos predictivos de ajustamiento sicologica y socio-cultural. Satisfacción en relaciones con huespedes nacionales, extraversión, cambios en vida y dificultad social acontaron por 34% de la variacion en ajustamiento sicologica. Distancia cultural, dificultad esperado y depresión acontaron por 36% de la variacion en ajustamiento socio-cultural. Aungue ajustamiento sicologica y socio-cultural son interelacionados, es concluido que se debe considerar estos como conceptualmente distintos. (author-supplied abstract).

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    A version of this paper was presented at the Third International Conference of Culture and Self, Nag's Head, North Carolina, May, 1989

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