A Longitudinal Study of the Adaptation of International Students in the United States

The authors conducted a longitudinal study of international students (N = 90) attending a U. S. university to examine the effects of the initial cross-cultural transition on their psychological well-being and social and academic adaptations. The results indicate a significant decline in self-reports of psychological well-being, increased identification with the host culture, and stable identification with home cultures. Students who exhibit a separation strategy previous to their sojourn have the lowest level of social adaptation to the host culture.