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Acculturative Stress Among International Students in Context of Socio-Demographic Variables and Coping Styles

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Abstract

The current study investigated how different socio-demographic variables and coping styles are associated with the level of acculturative stress among international students in Germany. Participants consisted of 652 international students (53 % female, 47 % male; mean age = 25.77 years, SD = 3.79) who were mainly recruited with the support of offices of student affairs of the universities. Data was collected through an online survey comprised of Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS), Problem-focused Styles of Coping (PF-SOC), and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis found age, continent of origin, German language proficiency, time spent in Germany and prior travelling experience as significant predictors of acculturative stress. Being younger, having high level of self reported German language proficiency, and prior inter-culture travelling experience significantly predicted a low level of acculturative stress. Coming from a home country in Asia, Africa, or Latin America predicted a higher level of acculturative stress as compared to coming from any European country. Among coping styles, suppressive coping and reactive coping were found to predict significantly a high level of acculturative stress among international students. The findings of the current study are useful for student service organizations and offices of student affairs at university campuses to offer special counselling programs for the vulnerable group of students.

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Acknowledgments

The first author would like to thank Offices of Students Affairs of Universities for their support in data collection. She would also like to thank Dr. York Hagmayer and Dr. Peter Zezula for their assistance in data analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Georg-Elias-Mueller Institute of Psychology, Georg August University, Gossler Str. 14, 37073, Goettingen, Germany

    Mubeen Akhtar & Birgit Kröner-Herwig

  2. Department of Humanities, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Park Road, Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Mubeen Akhtar

Authors
  1. Mubeen Akhtar
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  2. Birgit Kröner-Herwig
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mubeen Akhtar.

Appendix

Appendix

Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS)

As foreign students have to make a number of personal, social, and environmental changes upon arrival in a strange land, this cultural shock experience might cause them acculturative stress. This scale is designed to assess such acculturative stress you personally might have experienced. There is no right or wrong answers. However, for the data to be meaningful, please answer each statement given below as honestly as possible.

Because of my different cultural background as a foreign student, I feel that:

  1. 1.

    Homesickness for my country bothers me.

  2. 2.

    I feel uncomfortable to adjust to new foods and/or to new eating habits.

  3. 3.

    I am treated differently in social situations.

  4. 4.

    I feel rejected when people are sarcastic toward my cultural values.

  5. 5.

    I have difficulties in selecting the groceries, clothing and other supplies which suit me.

  6. 6.

    I feel sad living in unfamiliar surroundings here.

  7. 7.

    I fear for my personal safety because of my different cultural background.

  8. 8.

    I feel intimidated to participate in social activities.

  9. 9.

    Others are biased toward me.

  10. 10.

    I feel guilty to leave my family and friends behind.

  11. 11.

    Many opportunities are denied to me.

  12. 12.

    I found necessary supplies costly and have no knowledge of how to get them cheaply.

  13. 13.

    I feel angry that my people are considered inferior here.

  14. 14.

    I have difficulty in finding a suitable accommodation for myself.

  15. 15.

    I feel overwhelmed that multiple pressures are placed upon me after my migration to this society.

  16. 16.

    I feel that I receive unequal treatment.

  17. 17.

    People from some ethnic groups show hatred toward me nonverbally.

  18. 18.

    It hurts when people don’t understand my cultural values.

  19. 19.

    I have difficulty in adjusting my appearance to the new life style.

  20. 20.

    I am denied what I deserve.

  21. 21.

    I have to frequently relocate for fear of others.

  22. 22.

    I have difficulties in obtaining necessary documents to be able to work or study.

  23. 23.

    I feel low because of my cultural background.

  24. 24.

    I feel rejected when others don’t appreciate my cultural values.

  25. 25.

    I feel uncomfortable to adjust to new cultural values.

  26. 26.

    I feel that my people are discriminated against.

  27. 27.

    People from some other ethnic groups show hatred toward me through their actions.

  28. 28.

    I feel that my status in this society is low due to my cultural background.

  29. 29.

    I am treated differently because of my race.

  30. 30.

    I feel insecure here.

  31. 31.

    I don’t feel a sense of belonging (community) here.

  32. 32.

    I am treated differently because of my color.

  33. 33.

    I feel sad to consider my people’s problems.

  34. 34.

    I generally keep a low profile due to fear from other ethnic groups.

  35. 35.

    It is really hard for me to establish a home in this new set-up.

  36. 36.

    I feel some people don’t associate with me because of my ethnicity.

  37. 37.

    People from some other ethnic groups show hatred toward me verbally.

  38. 38.

    I feel guilty that I am living a different lifestyle here.

  39. 39.

    I feel sad leaving my relatives behind.

  40. 40.

    I worry about my future for not being able to decide whether to stay here or to go back.

  41. 41.

    I find it difficult to know what to do and where to go when I am ill.

Note : Final version of ASSIS with newly added items shown in italics.

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Akhtar, M., Kröner-Herwig, B. Acculturative Stress Among International Students in Context of Socio-Demographic Variables and Coping Styles. Curr Psychol 34, 803–815 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-015-9303-4

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