Personality, acculturation, and psychosocial adjustment of Chinese international students in Germany.
The effect of personality traits and acculturation variables on crosscultural adjustment were investigated in 139 Chinese students in Germany (52% girls; M age = 25.3 yr., SD = 2.9). Participants were surveyed by house visits to their dormitories. Several scales were administered: (a) Big Five Inventory; (b) Vancouver Index of Acculturation; (c) sociocultural adjustment, general and academic; and (d) psychological adjustment, i.e., depression, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Results showed that Neuroticism and Openness were two shared predictors of sociocultural adjustment. Agreeableness and mainstream acculturation were only related to general adjustment, while Conscientiousness was only related to academic adjustment. All facets of psychological adjustment were related to Neuroticism and Consciousness, while positive components (self-esteem and life satisfaction) were also related to Extraversion and Openness. No influence of heritage acculturation was found. The findings are discussed in light of measurement issues and the shared and unique individual predictors of the different facets of adjustment.
Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Jingyu
J
Zhang
Heinz
H
Mandl
Erping
E
Wang
D000069:Acculturation; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult