Social support perceptions, network characteristics, and international student adjustment. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shu, Frank; Ahmed, Shujaat F.; Pickett, Meghan L.; Ayman, Roya; McAbee, Samuel T.
• Is Part Of: International journal of intercultural relations. Volume 74(2020)
• Page Start: 136
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Sojourner -- Cross-cultural adjustment -- Acculturation -- Social support -- International students -- Social network; Intercultural communication -- Periodicals; Cultural relations -- Periodicals; Cross-cultural studies -- Periodicals; Communication interculturelle -- Périodiques; Relations culturelles -- Périodiques; Études transculturelles -- Périodiques; Cross-cultural studies; Cultural relations; Intercultural communication; Periodicals; 303.482
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2019.11.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0147-1767

Abstract

Abstract: Two hundred seventy-six international students reported their perceptions of social support from multiple sources (i.e., friends, family, institution, and significant other) as predictors of three facets of cross-cultural adjustment (i.e., general, interaction, and school-related adjustment). In addition, this study explored the incremental effects of cultural diversity and social network size on adjustment by asking international students to report members of their social network that they rely on for instrumental (i.e., task-oriented) and socio-emotional (i.e., relationship-oriented) support. Findings showed that certain sources of social support (i.e., friends and institution) were more strongly related to adjustment than others. Moreover, cultural diversity and the presence of host-nationals in student's socio-emotional support network were significant predictors of cross-cultural adjustment. This demonstrates the importance of promoting initiatives that encourage host-national and sojourner interactions and diverse relationships within higher education to benefit cross-cultural adjustment.