What Does “Good Adjustment” Mean for Chinese International Students? A Qualitative Investigation

Bibliographic Data

ID8913445
AuthorsYun Lu (0000-0003-2939-232X, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA, corresponding author), Harold Chui (0000-0003-2066-8107, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China), Runsheng Zhu (University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA), Hongyang Zhao (0000-0003-4711-0314, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA), Yangyang Zhang (0000-0003-4136-8875, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA), Jie Liao (0009-0003-3991-4598, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA), Matthew J Miller (0000-0002-1301-7149, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA)
Year2018
Volume46
Issue8
Pages979-1009
Publication date2018-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Counseling Psychologist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0011-0000 • E-ISSN: 1552-3861
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0011000018824283
OpenAlexW2910125842
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited45

In this study, we aimed to provide a rich description of Chinese graduate international students’ ways of coping with adjustment challenges and their subjective appraisal of adjustment. Nine Chinese graduate international students (six women, three men) from different institutions and disciplines reported their perceptions of the broad sociopolitical context, cultural adjustment experiences, and subjective evaluation of adjustment. We analyzed the data using consensual qualitative research method. Findings were summarized into three domains: (a) Perceived Sociopolitical Context, (b) Cultural Adjustment Challenges, and (c) Coping and Adjustment. We found frequent long-standing challenges in social and professional domains. Furthermore, interviewees reported an ongoing evaluative process where they negotiated host culture participation expectations in the context of adjustment challenges to achieve a subjective sense of satisfaction. Our findings have implications for professionals working with Chinese international students to help them mitigate internalized oppression and develop purpose and well-being

Context (archaeology · Coping (psychology · Graduate students · Oppression · Pedagogy · Perception · Political science · Politics · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Clinical Psychology · Global Education and Multiculturalism · Higher Education Governance and Development · International Student and Expatriate Challenges · Psychology · Social Psychology