Acculturation Orientations and Student Sojourners’ Career Adaptability

Abstract

Basing on career construction theory and the acculturation model, this study examined how student sojourners’ acculturation orientations predicted their career exploration and career adaptability. We conducted a survey study among Chinese student sojourners (N = 222) and the results showed that after controlling the effects of big-five personality and approach/avoidance traits, both host orientation and home orientation positively predicted career adaptability, with these relations mediated by environmental career exploration. In addition, cultural distance was revealed as a significant moderator on the effects of host orientation such that the relationship between host orientation and environmental career exploration was only significant when the cultural distance between host country and home country was higher. The corresponding moderated mediation model was also supported such that the indirect effect of host orientation on career adaptability through career exploration was only significant when the cultural distance was higher. These findings carry implications for research on acculturation and career development.