Sociocultural Adaptation over Time

E n t r y 4 M o n t h s 6 M o n t h s 1 2 M o n t h s

The ABCs of Acculturation

Sociocultural Adaptation over Time

E n t r y 4 M o n t h s 6 M o n t h s 1 2 M o n t h s

PSYC 338

Acculturation

refers to the changes that result from continuous first hand intercultural contact

Affect - Stress and Coping

Behaviour- Culture Learning

Cognition- Social Identification

ABCs OF ACCULTURATION

GROUP LEVEL VARIABLES INDIVIDUAL LEVEL VARIABLES

SOCIETY OF ORIGIN

Political ContextEconomic SituationDemographic Factors

MODERATING FACTORS PRIOR T0 ACCULTURATION

Age, Gender, Education, Pre-acculturationStatus, Migration Motivation, ExpectationsCultural Distance (Language, Religion, etc.)Personality (Locus of control, Flexibility)

GROUP ACCULTURATION

PhysicalBiologicalEconomicSocialCultural

SOCIETY OF SETTLEMENTAttitudesMC IdeologyEthnic AttitudesSocial SupportLarger SocietyEthnic Society

Acculturation Experience

Life Events

Acculturation Experience

Life Events

MODERATING FACTORS DURING ACCULTURATION

Phase (length of time)Acculturation Strategies: Attitudes & BehavioursCoping: Strategies & ResourcesSocial SupportSocietal Attitudes: Prejudice & Discrimination

Appraisal of Experience

Stressors

Appraisal of Experience

Stressors

Strategies Used

Coping

Strategies Used

Coping

Immediate Effects

Stress

Immediate Effects

Stress

Long Term Outcomes

AdaptationA

Long Term Outcomes

AdaptationA

Stress and Coping Model of Acculturation

PREDICTORS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION

Life events Stress appraisal

– Expectations and experiences

– Level of stress Coping styles Personality Social Support and intercultural relations

Life Events- Acculturation Experience

Social Readjustment Rating Questionnaire (Holmes & Rahe)

New line of work Change in residence Change in living conditions Change in social activities

Appraisal

Expectations and Experiences of Asian Students in New Zealand

Expectations ( N = 150)

Experiences (N = 67)

Be able to understand New Zealand English

80% 57%

Be able to express myself effectively in English

77% 40%

Get good grades 87% 28%

Expectations and Experiences of Asian Students in New Zealand

Expectations Experiences

Form friendships with New Zealanders

91% 41%

Enjoy socialising with New Zealanders

82% 52%

Understand New Zealand social customs

82% 34%

Be accepted by New Zealanders

72% 37%

Expectations and Experiences of Asian Students in New Zealand

Expectations Experiences

Maintain a positive outlook

88% 69%

Feel stressed 31% 49%

Have enough money 62% 51%

Have no problems with my living arrangements or accommodation

59% 70%

Expectations and Experiences of Asian Students in New Zealand

Expectations Experiences

Maintain a positive outlook

88% 69%

Feel stressed 31% 49%

Have enough money 62% 51%

Have no problems with my living arrangements or accommodation

59% 70%

Students whose expectations are “undermet”

•experience more depression and

•more social adaptation difficulties

during the first six months of study in New Zealand

Appraisal Stressful Academic Experiences

Asians

(N = 44)

Europeans

(N = 46)

Didn’t understand assignment or lecture*

73% 24%

Didn’t know how to complete assignment

68% 30%

Didn’t know what was expected of me in class*

56% 43%

Worse mark than expected* 51% 20%

Stressful Academic Experiences

Asians Europeans

Could not keep up with school work*

46% 4%

Did not get help needed from tutor*

39% 4%

Unable to work well with classmates*

24% 2%

Treated unfairly by teacher* 17% 7%

Coping Strategies

* Approach (planning, active coping) * Avoidance (denial, venting)

* Primary (direct, task oriented)* Secondary (cognitive reframing)

Personality

Big Five: Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Conscientiousness Agreeableness

Others: Locus of control

Factor Depression

Singapore Australia

Neuroticism .49** .59**

Extraversion -.24** -.21**

Openness -.06 -.09

Agreeableness -.29** -.22**

Conscientiousness -.36** -.29**

PERSONALITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION

PERCEIVED AVAILABILTY OF SOCIAL SUPPORT

% Who agreed one or more persons would do this for me (N = 280)

Staff Co-nats

NZers

Give assistance with communication or language problems

89% 80% 62%

Help you deal with rules and regs

91% 75% 77%

Provide information to help you in your new settings

90% 76% 81%

PERCEIVED AVAILABILITY OF SOCIAL SUPPORT

Staff Co-nats NZers

Tell you about available choices and options

90% 71% 75%

Show you how to do something that you didn’t know how to do

83% 82% 80%

PERCEIVED AVAILABILITY OF SOCIAL SUPPORT

Staff Co-nats NZers

Listen and talk with you when you feel lonely or depressed

64% 85% 62%

Share your good times and bad

42% 81% 67%

Comfort you when you feel homesick

42% 78% 55%

Accompany you to do things 42% 85% 66%

Separate Hierarchical Regression Analyses for Perceived Socio-Emotional Support

and Perceived Instrumental Support in Testing their Incremental Validity over Locus

of Control in Predicting Depression

Predictors β SE _R Δ _R ΔFSe t1

Locu sof Control .39** .036 .15 - 75.65**

Perceived Availability of

Soci -o emotiona l Support

-.07 0.42 .16 .01 2.45

Se t2

Locu sof Control .39** 0.35 .15 - 75.65**

Percei ved Availabilit y of

Instrumenta l Support

-.15** 0.42 .17 .02 10.59**

*p<.05; ** p≤.001

Greater perceived availability of social support is associated

•greater psychological well-being and

•better social adaptation

in international students

---- Desired amount of contact ---- Actual amount of contact

ASIAN STUDENTS (N = 114)WITH CO-NATIONALS

Academic activities(e.g., Studying)

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

Never | | Often

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+ Social or recreational activities

(e.g., spending time with friendsclubs, sports, eating out)

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+ Never| | Often

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

---- Desired amount of contact ---- Actual amount of contact

ASIAN STUDENTSWITH NEW ZEALANDERS

Academic activities(e.g., Studying)

+---------------------------------------------------------------------Never | | Often

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

Social or recreational activities(e.g., spending time with friends

clubs, sports, eating out)

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+Never| | Often

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN STUDENTS (N = 66)---- Desired amount of contact ---- Actual amount of contact

WITH CO-NATIONALSAcademic activities

(e.g., Studying)

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+ Never | | Often

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

Social or recreational activities(e.g., spending time with friends

clubs, sports, eating out)

+---------------------------------------------------------------------Never | | Often

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN STUDENTS (N = 66)---- Desired amount of contact ---- Actual amount of contact

WITH NEW ZEALANDERS

Academic activities(e.g., Studying)

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+Never | | Often

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+

Social or recreational activities(e.g., spending time with friends

clubs, sports, eating out)

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+Never | | Often

+------------------------------------------------------------------ ----+

Contact with New Zealanders

0 ------- European students x ------- Asian Students

Equal Status o x Unequal Status

Involuntary x o Voluntary

Superficial x o Intimate

Pleasant o x Unpleasant

Cooperative o x Competitive

More contact with host national students is associated with

• better psychological adjustment

• better social adaptation

• better academic performance

• more satisfying relations with host nationals

• less perceived discrimination

CULTURAL FACTORS

* Cultural Distance * Acculturation Category * Acculturation Strategy

Entry 4 Months 6 Months 12 Months

PSYCHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OVER TIME

Important Factors

* Accurate expectations

* Stress appraisal

* Coping styles

* Adequate language ability

* Access to informational and emotional support

* Frequent and satisfying interactions with NZ students

APPLICATIONS

* Selection * Ensuring realistic expectations* Fostering equal status intercultural contact * Ensuring social support networks

* Counseling and coping styles