How satisfied are Chinese international college students? Factors associated with their overseas collegiate adjustment.

摘要

The present study examines how satisfied Chinese college international students are with their college experiences and the factors associated with their overseas collegiate adjustment. Specifically, the present study examines the relationship between Chinese college international students' demographic characteristics, acculturation level, and their overseas collegiate adjustment. College adjustment was measured by Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire and the level of acculturation was measure by Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale. Demographic information including age, gender, country of origin, TOEFL score, length of stay and class standing were collected to be analyzed whether they have effect on college adjustment in this population. The data from the final sample of 54 Chinese international students were analyzed with multiple regression to determine the predictive power of demographic variables and acculturation level on college adjustment. The results of this study suggested that Chinese international students appeared as well adjusted to college life as their US peers. In addition, none of the demographic variables contributed significant explaining power to any aspect of or overall college adjustment. Lastly acculturation was not found to offer significant predictive power on college adjustment as well. Lack of significant relationships between college adjustment, demographic variables, and acculturation level is consistent with prior literature that international students are generally resilient despite difficulties they face in studying in the US. Promoting bi-culturalism or multi-culturalism in education for Chinese international students is further warranted since the results of this study suggested that the students who reported low level of acculturation to Western values are adjusting to the life in US as well as their US peers. Furthermore, no evidence suggested high acculturation level is associated with better adjustment in this population.