Cultural and Psychological Adjustment of International Students in Thailand

Abstract

The study aimed to examine the influence of social support and self-efficacy on cultural adjustment and psychological outcomes of international students in Thailand. The participants in this study included 389 international students enrolled in Thai Universities.  The study found that international students possess a moderately high psychological and cultural adjustment. The results also supported the role of personal resources (social support and self-efficacy) that predicted concurrent cultural adjustment, which in turn influenced life satisfaction and psychological stress for students undergoing a cross-cultural transition. In addition, the findings of this study showed that self-efficacy and social support did not have a direct impact on psychological stress. Rather, the effect of self-efficacy and social support on psychological stress was found to be indirect, via cultural adjustment and life satisfaction. The study could increase the level of understanding of cross-cultural adjustment for international students in Thailand in particular, and assist in the creation of programs that could deliver vital improvements in both academic and personal support for international students in the country.

Keywords: cultural adjustment, psychological adjustment, life satisfaction, psychological stress, international student