The Impact of Acculturative Stressors on Wellness of International Undergraduates Studying in Thailand with Social Support as a Moderator

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of acculturative stressors on wellness of international undergraduates studying in Thailand with social support as a moderator. The study participants were 192 international undergraduates (Mage = 21.71+2.15). Instruments used consisted of Acculturative Stressors Scale, Social Support Scale, and Wellness Scale. Data were collected via self-report, both online and paper-pencil. Our analysis suggested that acculturative stressors have a negative relationship with social support at the significance level of .05, that social support has a positive relationship with wellness at the significance level of .001, and that acculturative stressors have no significant relationship with wellness. With social support moderating the relationship between acculturative stressors and wellness of international undergraduates in Thailand, it was found that acculturative stressors had no significant relationship with wellness among students with high levels of social support. For those with low levels of social support, however, acculturative stressors had a negative relationship with wellness at the significance level of .01.