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Language use and communicative behaviors are important indicators of sojourners' adjustment. The current research was conducted to understand international students' communication behavior on Facebook during their adjustment period in the US and its relationship to the students' acculturative attitude (identification with heritage and mainstream culture), current psychological adjustment level, socio-cultural adaptation level, and target audience on Facebook. Two main theories provided the theoretical framework of the study: Giles' communication accommodation theory (1973) and Berry's acculturation model (1984). Snowball and convenience samples were used to recruit 178 international students from different universities across the US. A mixed approach of online survey and content analysis was used to test the hypotheses and research questions. The results showed that during the stay in the US, international students accommodate their language and topic choice towards their American peers on Facebook. Particularly, it was found that language accommodation levels increase as the students' length of stay in the US increases. The results also demonstrate that international students use Facebook mainly to communicate with friends who reside in the US. When students had higher levels of mainstream identification, they were likely to target American friends as their audience on Facebook and thus have more language and topic accommodation. Additionally, acculturation attitude (heritage and mainstream identification) predicted the students' language accommodation level. Lastly, the study showed that there is a positive relationship between language accommodation and sociocultural adjustment. The findings of the study not only expand the scope of communication accommodation theory and acculturation model, but also enhance understanding of international students' online communication patterns, their purposes, and practical consequences upon their adjustment in the US. This is important because it can be useful in finding ways to improve the students' experience in the US.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between narcissism, cultural adjustment, and leadership of expatriates. Specifically, it was predicted that cultural adjustment would partially mediate the relationship between narcissism and selfperceptions of leadership effectiveness such that narcissism would be negatively related to cultural adjustment, and cultural adjustment would be positively related to selfperceptions of leadership effectiveness. It was also predicted that cultural adjustment would partially mediate the relationship between narcissism and LMX perceptions such that narcissism would be negatively related to cultural adjustment, and cultural adjustment would be positively related to LMX perceptions. Fifty-three participants completed an online survey through Qualtrics. Participants consisted of individuals who were teaching abroad for an extended period of time. Results indicated support for the mediating role of cultural adjustment in the relationship between narcissism and perceived leadership effectiveness, but not in the relationship between narcissism and LMX perceptions. Results also indicated positive correlations between narcissism and cultural adjustment. The implications and limitations of these findings are discussed, and multiple directions for future research are suggested.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cintia Gemmo Vilani.pdf: 1579666 bytes, checksum: ad0a72552cec7a44e034d9f1a9155081 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Christian missionaries from historic Protestant churches Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist and Lutheran have performed important work to spread their faith across a variety of countries. Given that their activities overseas involve a number of variables, including issues such as bureaucracy and corruption in the workplace; that they may have to work within a different social or political context than that of their homeland, having to adapt to the local culture mastering the language, coping with the different lifestyle (cognitive flexibility and acculturation) ; and that emotional problems occasionally emerge in the process, this Thesis set out to study the mental health of Brazilian Protestant missionaries in cross-cultural settings. We conducted quantitative and qualitative research, using a set of assessment instruments consisting of a demographic questionnaire; Wilson s Revised Sociocultural Adaptation Scale (SCAS-R) (2013); Martin & Rubin s Cognitive Flexibility Scale (1995); and Beck s inventories of anxiety (BAI) and depression symptoms (BDI) (2001). For statistical analysis, we used non-parametric tests such as Pearson s chi-square, Spearman s correlation, the Kruskal-Wallis, and Multiple Linear Regression, in order to understand how the variables related to the symptoms of anxiety and depression. The continuous variables were entered using a simple average, and the information obtained in the essay questions, categorized into themes for assimilation. We found an adult, gender-balanced sample of 20 men (41%) and 29 women (59%), many (20, or 41%) of whom were 31-40 year-olds, mostly (30, or 61%) married. The cross section included missionaries working in 21 identified countries and in one country that remained unnamed for safety reasons. Most respondents were with the Brazilian Baptist Convention s World Missions Committee (Junta de Missões Mundiais); 25 (or 51% of) participants had completed high school and 23 (48%) of them had an undergraduate degree; 36 (74%) were already acting as cross-cultural missionaries and 18 (37%) had been working abroad for 6 or 10 years. Of those interviewed, 49% developed the missionary activity as a career; 43 (88%) were engaged exclusively in religious activities; and their work time in the mission field averaged 45.8 hours a week.. It was observed that 35 participants had higher than expected level of anxiety for the Brazilian and global population and seven had levels of depression than expected for the world Brazilian population and global population. Cultural adaptation, as well as the type of support offered by the conjugal family (wife / husband / children); not work in gainful activities beyond the missionary service; education level, economic status and physical variables were correlated with the level of anxiety of the missionaries. With regard to depression was correlated with time missionary service performed outside Brazil; if the first experience of acting as a cross-cultural missionary and the burden of weekly working hours. Yet identified the tendency of participants to use religious coping resources as a way of coping with difficulties, many of which are not related to everyday life and faith. Pointed out the need for future research to better understand the phenomena related with the purpose of providing support and psychological care to missionaries working in cross-cultural context / Os missionários cristãos das igrejas protestantes históricas - batista, presbiteriana, metodista e luterana têm realizado um trabalho importante para a expansão do Cristianismo em diversos países. A despeito da vocação e relevância do trabalho tem sido identificado tanto pela literatura religiosa quanto a científica, a presença de dificuldades emocionais freqüentes, principalmente quadros de ansiedade e depressão. O objetivo desta tese foi identificar as variáveis associadas às condições de saúde mental de missionários brasileiros protestantes em contexto transcultural. Foi realizada uma pesquisa quanti-quali, utilizando-se um questionário com questões demográficas, acerca de significado do trabalho e apoio social; a Escala de Adaptação Sociocultural Revisada (SCAS-R) de Wilson (2013); Escala de Flexibilidade Cognitiva de Martin & Rubin (1995); e os inventários de sintomas ansiosos (BAI) e depressivos (BDI) de Beck (2001) que foi disponibilizada e respondida online por uma amostra em bola-de-neve. Tratou-se de uma amostra 49 adultos, equilibrada em relação ao sexo (20 homens e 29 mulheres); a maioria com idade entre 31 e 40 anos, casados e com filhos crianças atuando em 22 países, um dos quais não identificado. A maioria deles agenciados pela Junta Mundial de Missões 25; apresentavam alta escolaridade com 23 dos participantes com graduação completa; 36 já estava atuando como missionários transculturais sendo que 18 dos participantes estavam há 6 e 10 anos atuando no exterior. Dentre os missionários, 24 desenvolveram essa atividade como carreira; 43 não exerciam atividades extra-religiosas; possuindo em média, 45,8 horas/semanais em campo missionário. Observou-se que 35 participantes apresentaram nível de ansiedade superior ao esperado para a população brasileira e mundial e sete apresentaram nível de depressão acima do esperado para a população brasileira e mundial. Adaptação cultural, bem como com o tipo de apoio oferecido pela família conjugal (esposa/marido/filhos); não trabalhar em atividades remuneradas além do serviço missionário; nível de escolaridade, condição econômica e física, foram as variáveis correlacionadas com o nível de ansiedade dos missionários. No que se refere à depressão estava correlacionada ao tempo de serviço missionário executado fora do Brasil; se a primeira experiência de atuação como missionário transcultural e a carga de horário semanal de trabalho. Identificamos ainda a tendência dos participantes em utilizar recursos de coping religioso como forma de enfrentamento das dificuldades, muitas das quais de cotidiano e não relativas à fé. Aponta-se a necessidade de futuras pesquisas para compreender melhor os fenômenos relacionados, com a finalidade de proporcionar suporte e cuidado psicológico aos missionários que atuam em contexto transcultural

In a study of the application of storytelling to adoptive family bonding, sensemaking, and cultural adjustment, I selected 12 world folktales for adoptive families to use as oral storytelling activities. I designed and facilitated a workshop for 7 adoptive families focusing on how to select, to learn, and to tell stories as well as how to play story-based games with their children. Each adult told 1 of the 12 folktales, played 1 or 2 of 37 games (12 traditional games, 25 storybased games), and shared reactions and interactions of family members. Using the term “story talk” to describe conversational byplay following the storytelling experiences, family members’ responses to interview questions were coded to interpret levels of sensemaking, attachment, and cultural adjustment through the storytelling process. The parents also described the levels at which their chosen folktale helped adoptees to understand cultural and personal identity within the modern-day adoption process.

An increasing reliance on expatriate employees makes it critical that multinational organizations make a concerted effort to facilitate the successful transition of employees from foreign cultures. The parallels between the experience of expatriate employees and international students suggests that the results of research investigating issues of cross‑cultural adaptability that are conducted in academic settings should generalize to the workplace. The current study investigated the influence of the Sino‑American 1+2+1 Dual Degree Program on the cross‑cultural adaptability, acculturation, and withdrawal intentions of international students. It was hypothesized that participants in the 1+2+1 program would demonstrate higher levels of psychological adaptability and socio‑cultural adaptability, while demonstrating lower levels of withdrawal intentions. In addition, it was hypothesized that 1+2+1 participants would be more likely to adopt an acculturation orientation style than 1+2+1 non‑participants. To test the hypotheses, survey responses were obtained from 50 Chinese international students who were currently enrolled at California State University, San Bernardino, Northern Arizona University, and Coastal Carolina University. Results provided partial support for the 1+2+1 program improving the socio‑cultural adaptability of international students, while providing no support for the other three hypotheses. An interpretation of the results is provided that cites past studies which present potential explanations for the findings. Finally, an overview of the limitations of the current study, as well as the theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.

This multiple case study was designed to explore the adjustment and cultural learning of sojourning English language teachers (ELTs) in Japan and South Korea. Qualitative research methods were used to design the study and to collect the data. Using Holliday's Host Culture Complex model (1994) as a theoretical framework, shared patterns in the adjustment process emerged from the participants' blogs and interviews. The patterns provide evidence supporting cultural learning through relationships with various people in different parts of the host culture complex. The strongest pattern revealed that the relationship between sojourning ELTs and their co-teachers was one of the more beneficial relationships for the sojourners' cultural learning. However, these relationships were only found in government-sponsored English language programs, such as the JET Program in Japan and EPIK in South Korea. Another strong pattern revealed that the participants' relationships with their significant others marked a shift in their adjustment patterns in one or more parts of the host culture complex. This study prompted the creation of a new revised host culture complex, which includes foreigners within the target culture. These foreigners, some who are also sojourning ELTs, have shown to influence the adjustment process of the participants. Additionally, this study demonstrates the use of social media for research and professional development in English language education.

Australia is a culturally diverse country with many migrant and refugee families in need of mental health services. Yet, surveys indicate that many culturally diverse community members do not feel comfortable in accessing mental health services, often due to a limited understanding of current western practices and the lack of practitioner cultural sensitivity. Despite the apparent need, few investigations have been conducted with migrant families to understand their different values and needs, and identify how they adjust to a new culture. The paucity of empirical research is largely due to the number of variables associated with the process of cultural change, and the fact that culture itself may lend different meaning to symptom experience, and the expression thereof. Moreover, because migrant adaptation is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, it is often rendered difficult to investigate. Cultural groups have been observed to exhibit differences in the pathogenesis and expressions of psychological adjustment, thus making culturally sensitive assessment a particularly arduous yet important task. Although the number of studies conducted on cultural adaptation trends of adult migrants is growing, few investigations have examined the acculturation experiences of children and adolescents. Moreover, the link between acculturation and mental health has confounded researchers and practitioners alike. Considering assessment procedures largely influence therapeutic strategies, it is deemed essential that Australian health care professionals understand language, behavioural, and motivational differences between ethnic groups. In response to appeals for empirical data on culture-specific differences and developmental pathways of emotional resiliency and psychopathology, the present research program examines the complex interplay between situational factors and internal processes that contribute to mental health among young migrants and refugees. The research focuses particularly on anxiety, which is not only the most common form of childhood psychopathology but also frequently coincides with stressful life events such as cultural relocation. Two hundred and seventy-three primary and high school students (comprised of former-Yugoslavian and Chinese cultural groups) participated in this research program. Primary (n=131) and high school (n=142) students completed self-report measures of acculturation, internalising symptoms, social support, self-concept/esteem, ethnic identity, and future outlook, and were compared by cultural group, heterogenic ethnicity, school level, gender, and residential duration variables. Specifically, Study 1 aimed to map the cultural adjustment patterns of migrant youth so as to determine both situational and internal process risk and protective factors of emotional distress. The main findings from Study 1 indicate: (1) patterns of cultural adjustment differ for children and adolescents according to cultural background, gender, age, and length of stay in the host culture; (2) former-Yugoslavian migrants generally report greater identification and involvement with Australian cultural norms than Chinese migrant youth; and (3) the divergent variables social support and bicultural adjustment are not universally paired with acculturative stress, as previously indicated in other adult migrant and acculturation studies. These outcomes highlight the importance of addressing the emotional and psychological needs of young migrants from unique age-relevant cultural perspectives. Building on these outcomes, the aim of Study 2 was to propose an organisational structure for a number of single risk factors that have been linked to acculturative stress in young migrants. In recognising that divergent situational characteristics (e.g., school level, gender, residential duration in Australia, social support, and cultural predisposition) are selectively paired with internal processing characteristics (e.g., emotional stability, self-worth/acceptance, acculturation/identity, and future outlook), a top-down path model of acculturative stress for children and adolescents of Chinese and former-Yugoslavian backgrounds was proposed and tested. To determine goodness of model fit, path analysis was employed. Specific cross-cultural profiles, application for the proposed age and culture sensitive models, and research considerations are discussed.

This study examines the effects of social tie strength, value fit and affect-based trust of overseas workers on their cultural knowledge acquisition in foreign countries. Based on the assumption that cultural knowledge is acquired through social interactions, the research model encompassed 3 social-related independent variables and tested empirically from 536 interpersonal relationships reported by 136 respondents. The results revealed that social tie strength and value fit have positive impacts on cultural knowledge acquisition not only directly but also indirectly, through the mediation role of affect-based trust. However, the mediation effect differs between relationships with local nationals and relationships with non-local nationals. Specifically, affect-based t rust is essential for the effect of social tie strength to local nationals instead of that to non-local nationals; moreover, the mediation effect is sufficient on value fitted non-local nationals but is incomplete on value fitted local nationals. The implications of the findings and the need for future research were also discussed.

This reserch aims to investigate the realtionship of expatriate's cross-cultural competence with his entrepreneurship. By building an integrative framework, we identify three constructs, big-five personality, cultural intellegance and cross-cultural adjustment, which were encompassed in cross-cultural competence to have associations with expatriate's entrepreneurship. Using SEM model to analyzed sample of 230 expatriates, our findings reveals that expatriate's personality has positive associations with expatriates' entrepreneurship. In addition, expatriate's personality will affect the ability to cross-cultural adjustment and cultural intelligence for entrepreneurship in their expatriate assignments to MNC's subsidiary. In short, this research proposes a cross-cultural framework to illustrate how expatriate's personality affects their cultural intelligence and cross-cultural adjustment, which act as mediators in the relationships between personality and entrepreneurship. Moreover, cultural difference is found to be an important moderator among all the relationships above entrepreneurial spirit for business performance at host.