Psycho-social predictors of acculturative stress and adjustment in Pakistani Institutions

Muhammad Akram Riaz,Rafia Rafique

doi:10.12669/pjms.35.5.1214

Muhammad Akram Riaz, Rafia Rafique

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.5.1214

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Abstract

Objectives:The main objective of study was to investigate the effect of psycho-social predictors on acculturative stress and adjustment in Pakistani institutions.Methods:The study was carried out from November 15, 2016 to January 18, 2019. For this purpose data was collected from 450 international students who were studying in public and private sector universities of Pakistan and who experienced acculturative stress. The instruments include Relationship Assessment Scale, Acculturative Stress Scale for International, Psychological Adaptation Scale, and Revised Socio Cultural Adaptation Scale. The proposed model was tested by using SPSS (Version-23) and AMOS (Version-9).Results:Findings of the study revealed that relationship satisfaction (p<0.05), length of stay (p<0.05), and financial support (p<0.05) significantly negatively predicted acculturative stress. Financial support significantly positively predicted psychological adjustment (p<0.05). Employment status did not predict acculturative stress, psychological and socio-cultural adjustment (p>0.05). Moreover, all psycho-social predictors did not show effect on socio-cultural adjustment among international students (p>0.05).Conclusion:It can be concluded that general relationship satisfaction, more length of stay in host country, and financial support are very important for international students to manage their acculturative stress and to adjust better in a new cultural environment.

Highlights

Acculturative stress is the type of psychological stress the individual experience during cross cultural interaction
In the current study data was collected from 450 international students who experienced acculturative stress in which males and females were in equal counterparts with age range 19 to 28 years
The psycho-social predictors of acculturative stress, psychological adjustment and socio cultural adjustment are shown in Table-II

Summary

Introduction

Acculturative stress is the type of psychological stress the individual experience during cross cultural interaction. International students or academic sojourns are such types of immigrants who experience an optimum level of acculturative stress when they study in the country that has different culture than the culture of their own country.[1] Even those international students who have better cross cultural experience exhibit some level of acculturative stress. This acculturative stress impacts on the level of adjustment and mental health of immigrant population. Many studies have been conducted on international students’ acculturative stress and adjustment there is dearth of studies available in the indigenous context.[1,2]

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