The Influence of Self-determined Motivation and Goals of International Students to Study Abroad on Subjective Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Psychological Needs Satisfaction and the Moderating Role of Socio-Cultural Adjustment

The primary objective of this study was to examine the potential impact of self -determined motivation on the satisfaction of psychological needs and, subsequently, the subjective wellbeing of international students. Additionally, the present study sought to investigate the correlation between students' aspirations to pursue international education and their level of psychological need fulfilment. In addition to this, the study sought to examine the moderating influence of sociocultural adjustment on the relationship between psychological needs satisfaction and subjective wellbeing among international students. In order to accomplish this objective, a combination of convenience sampling and survey methods was employed to select a sample of 267 international students who were enrolled in various universities within Saudi Arabia. The data that was gathered was subjected to analysis using statistical software programmes such as SPSS and AMOS. This analysis aimed to examine both direct and indirect effects, encompassing concepts such as mediation and moderation. The findings of the study indicate a positive correlation between the fulfilment of psychological needs and the subjective well-being of international students enrolled in different universities in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, there exists a positive correlation between self-determined motivation, the establishment of goals for studying abroad, and the satisfaction of psychological needs among international students. Moreover, it was discovered that the fulfilment of psychological needs serves as a constructive mediator in the association between self-determined motivation and subjective wellbeing, as well as between goals for studying abroad and subjective wellbeing. In a nutshell, it was determined that sociocultural adjustment serves as a beneficial moderator in the association between the satisfaction of psychological needs and the subjective wellbeing experienced by international students. This study makes a valuable contribution to the existing body of literature by examining the combined influence of self-determined motivation and study abroad goals on the subjective wellbeing of international students. Previous research has not extensively explored this particular combination of factors. Furthermore, the present study makes a significant contribution to the existing literature by examining the mediating influence of psychological need satisfaction and the moderating influence of sociocultural adjustment. This research investigates a comprehensive empirical model pertaining to the field of international students.