Study abroad in Japan: A study on the psychological and sociocultural adjustment of international exchange students studying at Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan.

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2017-01-24
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en
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This study investigated the psychological and sociocultural adjustment of 77 international exchange students studying in Japan. The present study suggested the use of alternative and additional variables to Searle and Ward’s (1990) model of adjustment during cross-cultural transitions, on which this study was built. This study found that the multicultural personality traits cultural empathy, open mindedness and emotional stability were positively linked to psychological adjustment. In addition, English language use and quality of contact with locals were positively linked to sociocultural adjustment. Moreover, English language use and quality of contact with locals were found to positively correlate with academic adaptation, a subscale of sociocultural adjustment. Furthermore, Japanese language proficiency, English language use and quality of contact with locals were found to positively correlate with adaptation to daily life, another subscale of sociocultural adjustment. Finally, Japanese language use and quality of contact with locals were found to be a significant predictor interpersonal adaptation, the third subscale of sociocultural adjustment. In general, the results of the present study were not in line with previous research. Therefore, limitations of the present study and recommendations for future research are discussed.
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