title: Measuring the Cross-Cultural Adaptability of a Graduate Student Team from a Global Immersion Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cultural competency skills for health and human services providers is important because of the growing diverse populous. Experiential learning through global immersion may promote these skills.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a non-randomized cohort design, there were two groups of unmatched graduate students. One reviewed an online educational module and participated in campus activities and an experience in Malawi; the other reviewed the module only. The students were assessed pre- and post-immersion using a measure of cross-cultural adaptability, a component of cultural competency skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing total scores on the Cross-Cultural Adaptability Inventory (CCAI™), pre-immersion (baseline), there was no significant difference between the groups. Comparing both groups' total scores pre/post-immersion, there was a significant difference. There was a significant difference for the experimental group between the pre/post-immersion total scores but not for the control group. Comparing both groups'post immersion, there was a significant difference between the groups. Comparing both groups' component scores, there was a significant difference in the Emotional Resilience and Perceptual Acuity variables for the experimental group but not for the control group. Comparing both groups' component scores, there was no significant difference in the Personal Autonomy and Flexibility Openness variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participation in a 6-week global immersion experience compared to education only made a greater change in the development of cross-cultural adaptability for a graduate student team.
authors.forename: Leslie B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Glickman
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rowthorn
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000193:education*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003479:Curriculum; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult