Relationship between selected predictors and adjustment/acculturation stress among East Asian international students

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between selected predictor variables for psychological and sociocultural adjustment among East Asian international students using the adjustment model (Searle & Ward, 1990; Ward & Kennedy, 1992, 1993; Ward & Searle, 1991). Additionally, acculturation stress was also investigated using the selected variables to examine the relationship between them. Data were collected from East Asian international students from three different Midwestern universities using a Web-based survey. To gather additional data, a paper and pencil survey was also employed. The total number of usable responses for analysis was 125.; Pearson product moment correlations were calculated among selected predictor variables, (social support satisfaction, independent self-construal, general self-efficacy, perceived English skills and socialization with Americans) and dependent variables (psychological adjustment, sociocultural adjustment, and acculturation stress). Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was performed to compare the difference in the mean level of psychological and sociocultural adjustment, and acculturation stress related to gender, age, nationality, and length of stay.; In finding the best predictor model for psychological adjustment, sociocultural adjustment, and acculturation stress, first, perceived English skills was found to be a significant predictor of psychological adjustment. Second, social support satisfaction as well as perceived English skills were found to be significant predictors of sociocultural adjustment. Third, perceived English skills was found to be a significant predictor of acculturation stress among East Asian international students. In two mediation tests, perceived English skills fully mediated the relationship between independent self-construal and both psychological and sociocultural adjustment.; Finally, in the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, each variable of research interest did not contribute to the increments of the variance in acculturation stress. Perceived English skills was a significant predictor, accounting for the most variance in acculturation stress. In conclusion, perceived English skills was found to be a significant predictor of adjustment (psychological and sociocultural), which was partially supportive of the adjustment model, and perceived English skills was also a significant predictor of acculturation stress among East Asian international students.; Keywords: East Asian International Student, Psychological Adjustment, Sociocultural Adjustment, Acculturation Stress, Adjustment Model.