Turkish graduate students’ experiences in transitioning to Japanese interpersonal processes

Abstract

This study aims to explore, identify, and theorize cross-cultural adjustment processes experienced by Turkish graduate students in Japan. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews, and 20 participants (ages 25–37) answered the questions. Grounded theory was followed as the research method, and the analysis suggested a grounded theory of transitioning to Japanese interpersonal processes. Our explanatory model comprises five categories: (1) culturally centered expectations, (2) interpersonal experiences in socialization, (3) skills for interpersonal relationships and culture-specific behaviors, (4) relational outcomes, and (5) resolution strategies for difficulties during adjustment process. We observed that participants had interpersonal expectations based on their past experiences in their native culture but acquired behaviors specific to Japanese culture or avoided certain behaviors specific to Turkish culture. Moreover, their initial interpersonal strategies mostly failed during their transition to Japanese interpersonal relationships, and participants subsequently reduced their effort to form new friendships, with withdrawal suggesting an impaired transition to Japanese interpersonal processes from a Turkish cultural perspective. However, many students eventually adjusted the way they related to others to a more Japanese style, which was not necessarily a negative outcome. Thus, we distinguish between expectations (i.e., forming close relationships) and outcome (i.e., adjusting to Japanese interpersonal relations) to clarify the distinction between adjustment and well-being.