TY - JOUR
T1 - Predicting adjustment of international students
T2 - The role of cultural intelligence and perceived cultural distance
AU - Malay, Elok D.
AU - Otten, Sabine
AU - Coelen, Robert J.
N1 - Funding Information:
We acknowledge and would like to thank LPDP (Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan/Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) for its support as the scholarship provider for the first author’s doctoral study.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - Despite years of investigation on international students’ adjustment, cultural distance and cultural intelligence, the definitions of and the relationship between these concepts are not yet sufficiently well established. This article further explores the three concepts and their possible interrelations. We propose a hypothesized model that considers subjectively perceived cultural distance (PCD) a variable of specific importance, and wherein we assume that the relationship between PCD and international students’ adjustment is moderated by students’ cultural intelligence (CQ). Our model aims to better explain the dynamics between these variables; it posits that students’ CQ level will affect whether and how PCD may influence international students’ psychological, sociocultural and academic adjustment in the host country. Consequently, the model offers several implications for future research and possible interventions to support international students’ adjustment in higher education.
AB - Despite years of investigation on international students’ adjustment, cultural distance and cultural intelligence, the definitions of and the relationship between these concepts are not yet sufficiently well established. This article further explores the three concepts and their possible interrelations. We propose a hypothesized model that considers subjectively perceived cultural distance (PCD) a variable of specific importance, and wherein we assume that the relationship between PCD and international students’ adjustment is moderated by students’ cultural intelligence (CQ). Our model aims to better explain the dynamics between these variables; it posits that students’ CQ level will affect whether and how PCD may influence international students’ psychological, sociocultural and academic adjustment in the host country. Consequently, the model offers several implications for future research and possible interventions to support international students’ adjustment in higher education.
KW - Academic adjustment
KW - cultural distance
KW - cultural intelligence
KW - higher education
KW - international students
KW - perceived cultural distance
KW - psychological adjustment
KW - sociocultural adjustment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150523424&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/17454999231159469
DO - 10.1177/17454999231159469
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85150523424
SN - 1745-4999
VL - 18
SP - 485
EP - 504
JO - Research in Comparative and International Education
JF - Research in Comparative and International Education
IS - 3
ER -