Psychological Reports
Volume 107, Issue 2, 2010, Pages 511-525

Personality, acculturation, and psychosocial adjustment of Chinese international students in Germany (Article)

Zhang J. , Mandl H. , Wang E.*
  • a Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
  • b Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University of Munich, Germany
  • c Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 4A Datun Rd., Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China

Abstract

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. © Psychological Reports 2010.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

China Germany Asian psychological aspect human statistics Asian continental ancestry group Adaptation, Psychological international cooperation ethnology Young Adult student Humans male Acculturation personality test Personality Inventory female adaptive behavior individuality cultural factor Article social adaptation adult International Educational Exchange Students Social Adjustment

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78649489723&doi=10.2466%2f07.09.11.17.PR0.107.5.511-525&partnerID=40&md5=63d0abc9ee03d0ab86086a9850a05fb2

DOI: 10.2466/07.09.11.17.PR0.107.5.511-525
ISSN: 00332941
Cited by: 22
Original Language: English