Level Of Sociocultural Adaptation Research Articles

Overseas qualified nurses’ sociocultural adaptation into the Australian healthcare system: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundOverseas qualified nurses (OQNs) face various challenges while adjusting to the Australian healthcare system. However, few studies to date have identified specific factors affecting their sociocultural adjustment, health and psychology. AimsThe primary aim was to examine factors associated with OQNs’ sociocultural adjustment to the Australian healthcare system. A secondary aim was to determine whether there was a correlation between OQNs’ sociocultural adjustment and their mental and physical health. MethodsA questionnaire was sent electronically to 2,250 randomly selected OQNs through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, and later distributed to 50 OQNs in person through Western Health, Melbourne. Sociocultural adjustment was assessed using the Sociocultural Adaptation Scale-Revised. The Nurse International and Transition Questionnaire-2 was used to explore the factors involved in sociocultural adjustment: these were pull factors, push factors, initial experiences, job satisfaction, feeling at home, and reactions to the working environment. The Perceived Stress Scale and General Health Questionnaire-12 were used to assess psychological adjustment and general health, respectively. FindingsA total of 200 participants completed the questionnaire. The mean age (SD) of the participants was 32.79 (6.91) with 161 (80%) holding a bachelor degree. In the adjusted multivariate linear regression, job satisfaction (β = 0.24, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.36), current work environment (β = 0.27, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.49) and feeling at home (β = 0.32, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.50) were independently positively associated with sociocultural adaptation. Sociocultural adaptation was negatively related to PSS (r = −0.14, β = −0.16, p = 0.04) and GHQ12 (r = −0.36, p < 0.001, β = −0.59). DiscussionThree factors (job satisfaction, current work environment, and feeling at home in Australia) were found to be significant in measuring OQNs’ level of sociocultural adaptation. When the level of sociocultural adaptation was high, OQNs reported better general and psychological health. ConclusionJob satisfaction and feeling supported in the workplace are the most important factors influencing OQNs’ successful adjustment into the Australian healthcare system.

SOCIO-CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF CHILDREN WITH SENSORY DISABILITIES IN THE BULGARIAN SOCIO-CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT

The problem of sociocultural adaptation of children with sensory disorders has a proper place in the Bulgarian sociocultural space. This article is devoted to a two-year-long study whose relevance is conditioned by the need to find ways to successfully integrate these children in a modern civilized society. The formulated aim of the study is focused on establishing the level of socio-cultural adaptation of children with impaired auditory and visual modality and the identification of factors that determine its peculiarities. 210 children with sensory impairments from early school, primary school and middle-school age were included, ditinguished into the following 4 groups: the ones with impaired hearing (n = 60), deaf children (n = 42), visually impaired children (n = 77), blind children (n = 31); 47 teachers from general and special structures, 153 parents. The methods used are: observation, surveying, interviewing, expert evaluation, analysis of normative documents and experimental materials, statistical analysis of empirical data (correlation, alternative and comparative analysis). From the summarized results, it is concluded that for children with the described model of ontogeny, socio-cultural adaptation is a concept that is represented at different levels. The clearly expressed dominants are the medium and low levels, which implies the partial or complete impossibility of fulfilling the generally accepted socio-cultural functions. In addition to the degree of sensory impairment as factors determining the characteristics of the sociocultural adaptation of children, the following factors were outlined: the professional readiness of teachers, the level of psychological and pedagogical competence of the family, and the attitudes of the society towards children with atypical development.

Socio-Cultural Adaptation of Malaysian Medical Students in Tanta University, Egypt

Background: Over the last years, the number of the international students studying in the Egyptian universities and colleges are increased. Good socio-cultural adaptation is necessary for successful academic achievement of the students. Aims: To assess level of socio-cultural adaptation of Malaysian students studying medicine in Tanta University, Egypt and to determine the relationship between some selected students’ sociodemographic characteristics and the level of their adaptation. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 250 Malaysian students studying at the Tanta faculty of medicine (63 students at basic years and 187 students at clinical years). Respondents were interviewed; using a valid questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic data and the Revised Sociocultural Adaptation Scale (SCAS-R) to measure the students’ level of socio-cultural adaptation. Results: More than half of the students (65.2%) showed fair adaptation and 18.8% of them showed poor adaptation while good adaptation was found in only 16% of them. Older students (≥ 21 years old), females and single ones experienced more difficulty in adapting, whereas better adaptation was found among students stayed in Egypt longer time and who can understand and speak Arabic language. Conclusions: Sociodemographic characteristics of international students can strongly affect their ability of socio-cultural adaptation in the host country.

Socio-Cultural Adaptation of Tuvan Students in Educational Environment of Tomsk

This study is relevant owing the modern world, which is focused on a multiethnic educational space maintenance. The article reveals the stages of Tuvan students’ adaptation in Tomsk’s educational space. Using a systemic approach, different levels of sociocultural adaptation – ethnopsychological, social, linguistic and religious – are unveiled. The authors investigate the process of developing new types of cognitive and educational activities of Tuvan students in the universities of Tomsk and propose methods to create an unlimited interaction in a multi-ethnic educational environment

What contributes to ethnic minorities’ identification with Hong Kong? The cases of South Asian and Filipino youth

ABSTRACTThe context of Hong Kong has not always been favourable for the integration of ethnic minorities, who face various difficulties in education, employment, and daily life. Research, however, has shown that many minorities, particularly the youth, have developed a fair sense of belonging to the city. To explore this puzzle, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 South Asian and Filipino youth and identified four main factors that may be associated with their local identification. They are (1) experiencing less discrimination, (2) achieving a higher level of sociocultural adaptation, (3) having an inclusive conception of Hong Kong identity, and (4) claiming to have received more social benefits. The findings suggest that the context of Hong Kong is not entirely detrimental for ethnic minorities to develop a local identification. Ethnic minorities themselves are also active agents in the construction of identity. Theoretical and policy implications of the findings are discussed.

Analysis of Acculturative Stress and Sociocultural Adaptation Among International Students at a Non-Metropolitan University

This quantitative descriptive study analyzed levels of acculturative stress and sociocultural adaptation among international students at a non-metropolitan university in the United States related to certain demographic characteristics. Surveys were used to measure international students’ levels of acculturative stress and sociocultural adaptation, including five subscales of sociocultural adaptation (N = 413). Demographic questions included gender, age, and country of origin, length of stay in the United States, degree level, and English language comfort. Results indicated a negative correlation between students’ levels of sociocultural adaptation and acculturative stress. Particularly, increased competency among the five sociocultural adaptation subscales (interpersonal communication, academic/work performance, personal interests and community involvement, ecological adaptation, and language proficiency) decreased levels of acculturative stress among the students.

Analysis of Acculturative Stress and Sociocultural Adaptation Among International Students at a Non-Metropolitan University

This quantitative descriptive study analyzed levels of acculturative stress and sociocultural adaptation among international students at a non-metropolitan university in the United States related to certain demographic characteristics. Surveys were used to measure international students’ levels of acculturative stress and sociocultural adaptation, including five subscales of sociocultural adaptation (N = 413). Demographic questions included gender, age, and country of origin, length of stay in the United States, degree level, and English language comfort. Results indicated a negative correlation between students’ levels of sociocultural adaptation and acculturative stress. Particularly, increased competency among the five sociocultural adaptation subscales (interpersonal communication, academic/work performance, personal interests and community involvement, ecological adaptation, and language proficiency) decreased levels of acculturative stress among the students.

Acculturation Attitudes, Need for Cognitive Closure, and Adaptation of Immigrants

The author validated Berry's model of acculturation (J. W. Berry, 1990a, 1990b, 1991; J. W. Berry, U. Kim, S. Power, M. Young, & M. Bujaki, 1989) and examined the relation between acculturation attitudes and sociocultural and psychological adaptation among Croatian and Polish immigrants to Italy, 2 groups whose cultures are not very different from the Italian culture. Moreover, the author investigated the relation between the need for cognitive closure (NCC; M. D. Webster & A. W. Kruglanski, 1994) and psychological and sociocultural adaptation. The participants completed a questionnaire including measures of sociocultural adaptation, psychological adaptation, social relationships, acculturation attitudes, and NCC. The results of a multivariate analysis of variance revealed main effects of acculturation strategies for both forms of adaptation and a main effect of NCC for psychological adaptation. The Croatian and Polish immigrants differed in the level of sociocultural adaptation but not in the level of psychological adaptation.