Psychological Support Programs For Foreign Students: Accounting Values And Coping Strategies
Abstract
International students have difficulties in adapting in the host country. Psychological support programs will be effective if students` cultural characteristics, preferred values and behavioral strategies are taken into account. The purpose of the study was to determine international students` value orientations and coping strategies contributing to their successful adaptation to training in Russia; and to perform comparative analysis of coping strategies and life values of students of different ethnic groups to develop differentiated programs of psychological support. The sample comprised 441 international students in Russian universities: Africans – 149, Turkmen – 164, Mongols – 128; mean age 21.6±0.9. The methods included the use of the Trompenaars questionnaire of national culture differences (Tunik`s adaptation), Hobfoll Strategic Approach to Coping Scale (SACS), Lazarus Coping Questionnaire, Rokeach Value Survey. Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation analysis, and comparative analysis (Mann—Whitney U-test) were conducted. We have found that successful adaptation of international students is positively linked with
the
coping strategies such as Social joining, Seeking social support, Planned problem-solving, and Positive reappraisal. Significant differences in coping strategies and ranking of life values among students of different ethnic groups were revealed. This study showed that psychological support should facilitate formation of sociocultural competence and development of coping strategies connected with social contacts and rationalization. In group training sessions it is necessary to focus on universal values and prevention of behavioral abnormalities.
Keywords: Foreign studentsadaptationcopingvalues
1.Introduction
International students are now probably the most-researched group of cross-cultural sojourners
(Zhou et al., 2008). The problem of international students‘ adaptation in the country of study remains
relevant today as evidenced by scientific works of the last decade (Brisset, 2010; Gallagher, 2013;
Chirkov, et al, 2007; Sapranaviciute, et al, 2012). International students may have different religions and
political systems but they share common circumstances that allow them to be identified as a group. These
characteristics include being transient and having to adapt to new temporary situations. This adaptation
causes international students to experience more stress than domestic students and also more stress than
other international groups, such as immigrants and refugees (Misra & Castillo, 2004).
The added stress results from the fact that international students suffer from student stress as well
as sojourner stress. Students have to adapt to the U.S. academic system, which may be very different from
the academic systems in their native countries (Misra & Castillo, 2004). Their sojourner stress is
compounded by the fact that their stay is temporary and they have to learn quickly to adapt to a different
culture in order to succeed.
O' Reilly, Ryan, and Hickey (2010) studied the psychosocial adaptation of international students in
Ireland. Using measures of social support, loneliness, stress, psychological well-being and sociocultural
adaptation, data were obtained from international students and a comparison sample of Irish students.
Although international students had high levels of social support and low levels of loneliness and stress,
students were experiencing high levels of sociocultural adjustment difficulties and psychological distress.
Depending on personality and coping skills, students adapt differently to new cultures and
situations. Berry (2004) enumerated strategies sojourners often use to adjust. The strategies consider the
sojourner’s identification with both home and host culture. The most beneficial, according to Berry, is the
integrationstrategy wherein the individual positively identifies with both sets of culture.
Russian researchers of adaptation problems of international students note that social adaptation
phenomenon includes socialization process, i.e. an acquirement of base apparatus of social code and
values allowing an individual to act as an independent subject in the society (Anufrieva, 2014).
It should be noted that in recent years the flow of international students from the countries of
Central Asia (e.g. Turkmenistan and Tajikistan) who come to study in Russia has significantly increased.
The process of training of foreigners in Russian universities, as a rule, starts with the stage of preparatory
programs. The main feature of this period is the need to adapt foreign citizens to a new sociocultural
environment. In the process of adaptation necessary abilities, skills, algorithms of actions, allowing to
operate successfully in a new society are created, so social and adaptive competence of international
students is formed. The studies (Drozhzhina, 2013; Anufrieva, 2014) have revealed a number of
difficulties, which almost all international students experience during the period of study in Russian
universities:
�language barrier - students who come to study in Russia have to learn Russian language for
mastering their future profession;
�difficulty of incorporating foreign students into the student community – problems of
communication among students;
�social difficulties – dissatisfaction with housing and living conditions or food;
�climatic conditions - a problem for students coming from countries with a warm climate;
�coexistence with different cultures - students tend to communicate within their own reference group;
�inability to legally get a job - many students would like to earn money while learning, but current
legislation forbids it.
Thus, adaptation of international students is a complex, dynamic, multilevel and multilateral
process of restructuring of motivational sphere, complex set of skills, abilities and habits in accordance
with new conditions.
2.Problem Statement
2.1.State of problem knowledge
More frequently studied approach to adaptation suggests that adaptation can be broadly divided
into two categories: psychological and sociocultural (Ward & Kennedy, 2001; Anufrieva, 2014; etc).
Ward (2001) suggested that psychological adaptation is best understood from a stress and coping
framework, whereas sociocultural adaptation best understood from a culture learning framework. She
further argued that psychological and sociocultural adaptations are influenced by different sets of
variables. Psychological adaptation is influenced by personality traits, coping strategies, and available
social support, whereas sociocultural adaptation is influenced by length of residence in the new culture,
cultural knowledge, language ability, and acculturation strategy.
Having analyzed the literature on adaptation, we developed a chart of adaptation of foreign
students at the preparatory stage (Fig. 1). The proposed chart is based on the definition of adaptation as a
complex phenomenon that includes three main dimensions: as a process, as an outcome and as a basis for
new-growths (Rean et al, 2008). The diagram shows four sides of the multifaceted phenomenon of
adaptation – socio-cultural, physiological, psychological, and pedagogical.
Socio-cultural adaptation is the achievement of international student` compliance (compatibility)
with a new cultural environment (a feeling of harmony and well-being in a foreign language
environment).
Physiological adaptation is a set of physiological characteristics that contribute to the balance of
the organism with changing environmental conditions (water, food, climate, time zones).
Psychological adaptation is a student`s psychological preparedness, including attention, memory,
thinking, will, and is determined by the individual's activity and acts as a unity accommodation
(assimilation of the rules of the environment) and assimilation (the environment conversion).
Pedagogical adaptation characterizes person`s adaptation to training and education in the
environment of a particular institution (the ability to acquire knowledge, skills, competence in a new
educational environment; the adoption of the higher education system of knowledge control, system of
self-study, forms and methods of instruction.
Thus, adaptation can be defined as a complex structure of the phenomenon, representing the
interaction of different types of adaptation (Somova, 2015).
2.2.Issues for discussion
In this study we focus on the role of psychological peculiarities of international students in the
adaptation process. On this basis we put the following issues for discussion:
�How do the national cultural differences and individual psychological characteristics influence
on the process of international students` sociocultural adaptation? What psychological
characteristics are important for their successful adaptation to training in Russia? Are the
differences between international students of different ethnic groups significant?
�What should psycho-pedagogical support of international students be at the stage of preparatory
programs, contributing to the formation of their social and adaptive competence? How to take
into account the specific characteristics of different ethnic groups of students in developing
programs of their psychological and pedagogical support?
3.Research Questions
�What are international students` behavior features in stressful situations in the process of their
adaptation?
�How to organize psychological support of international students of different ethnic groups with
account of these features?
The studies show that the important factors of adaptation are coping strategies,
communication skills and value-motivational features of students. Therefore, we focus on examining
the contribution of coping strategies and values in the success of adaptation and the appearance of
specific difficulties of students of those ethnic groups that currently prevail in Russian universities.
4.Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study was;
to determine international students` value orientations and coping strategies contributing to their successful adaptation to training in Russia;
to perform comparative analysis of coping strategies and life values of students of different ethnic groups to develop differentiated programs of psychological support.
5.Research Methods
5.1.Sample
Sample consisted of 441 international students in Russian universities (Russian State
Hydrometeorological University, St. Petersburg State University).
In research there were students of three ethnic groups, who were preparing to study in Russian
universities: Africans – 149, Turkmen – 164, Mongols – 128; mean age 21.6±0.9.
5.2.Methods
To reveal differences of international students` adaptation to Russian university environment we
used special adaptation questionnaire, developed on the basis of the questionnaire of cultural differences
by F. Trompenaars in adaptation of Tunik (2010).
Hobfoll Strategic Approach to Coping Scale (SACS) in adaptation of Vodopyanova and
Starchenkova (2009) is used for consideration of the coping behavior as a strategy (trend) of behavior.
Hobfoll`s model has two main axis: prosocial - antisocial, active - passive. An additional axis - direct –
indirect, allows us to differentiate coping as problem-focused action (direct or manipulative) that
increases cross-cultural applicability of the SACS questionnaire. The questionnaire has 9 subscales:
Assertive Action, Social Joining, Seeking Social Support, Cautious Action, Instinctive Action,
Avoidance, Indirect Action, Antisocial Action, Aggressive Action.
Lazarus Coping Questionnaire (WCQ) designed by Lazarus and Folkman as a measure of coping
processes used in a particular stressful encounter. In accordance with the authors` methodology coping
with adverse life circumstances is conscious behavior aimed at active changing, reconstructing of
verifiable situations, or adapting to non-controllable situations. In this study we used the technique in
adaptation of Kryukova et al (2007). The questionnaire has 8 subscales: Confrontive coping, Distancing,
Self-controlling, Seeking social support, Accepting responsibility, Escape-Avoidance, Planful problem-
solving, Positive reappraisal.
Rokeach Value Survey (RVS) in modification of Leontiev is used to determine the basic life
values of representatives of various ethnic groups. Respondents were asked to rank the importance of 18
terminal values (list A): Health, Development, Self-Respect, Active Exiting Life, Love, Cognition,
Interesting Job, Wealthy Life, True Friendship, Public Recognition, Productive Life, Family Happiness,
Career Opportunity, Wisdom, Nature & Art beauty, Freedom from inner contradictions, Happiness of
others, Creativity.
Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation analysis, and comparative analysis (Mann—Whitney
U-test) were conducted;
6.Findings
6.1.Differences in coping behavior among students of different ethnic groups]
Table
expressed for comparison in percentage of the maximum possible values. As you can see, all students
most frequently use the strategies Planful problem-solving, Seeking social support, Accepting
responsibility.
However, there are significant differences among the groups: Mongolian students in comparison to
Africans and Turkmens are more likely to exhibit
respectively),
Turkmen students more often than African and Mongolian students demonstrate
(p=0.045 and p=0.015 respectively) and
African countries less than Turkmen and Africans resort to
The analysis of results of SACS methods, in general, confirms the data on similar scales in the test
of Lazarus, given in Table
coping behavior
(Of 17.26±1.7), Antisocial action (16,33±0.9), Aggressive action (17,23±1.1), Indirect action
(18,17±2.3). Significant differences were detected in the fact that Turkmen students less than other groups
use
demonstrate
6.2.Life values and cultural peculiarities among students of different ethnic groups
The analysis of the results of Trompenaars` questionnaire of cultural differences on a dichotomous
scale universalism-particularism shows that the African students (69%) prefer a universal approach, i.e. in
new culture tend to follow the established laws and rules, while the Turkmen (63%) students show
themselves as representatives of culture of particularistic (specific) disposition, i.e. are more inclined to
act in accordance with personal preferences, kindred and friendly ties. In the course of socio-cultural
adaptation in a foreign country following the laws and rules releases people from many social
complications and facilitates its integration into a new society. The reverse situation (violation of rules
and norms of behavior to support a friend or a relative) entails a large number of problems, often causing
social lack of adaptation.
The analysis of differences on the scale of individualism-collectivism revealed the tendency of
African students to a collective form of activities (85.1 %), in contrast to Turkmen (37.3 %) and
Mongolian (42.3 %) respondents, most of whom chose individual form. Thus, gathering of African
students into small groups to solve some educational problems at the stage of pre-university training will
help to reduce the level of anxiety and the feeling of friendly support. The peculiarities of the ethnic
groups in the educational process will contribute to creating a situation of success, achieving better results
in training activities.
The study of locus of control of international students showed that the majority of African students
(77.1 %) have external locus of control of different intensity, that is, rely more on external circumstances
(God, fate, luck) than on themselves. These results confirm earlier studies (Babiker, Cox, Miller, 1980;
etc.). Most of Turkmen (66.3%) and Mongolian students (58.2%) rely on their own resources, i.e. have an
internal locus of control, promoting more rapid and successful adaptation to new conditions of life. Thus,
students expecting foreign aid need special programs of psychological and pedagogical support,
particularly at the initial stage of studying.
Table
Turkmenistan, Mongolia, African countries studying in Russia. Of 18 life values all respondents,
irrespectively of their nationality, preferred Health, Love, Family Happiness, Interesting Job, True
youth age and their similarity in different countries. However, there are significant differences in ranking
of certain life values in different ethnic groups of students. For example, for Turkmen students
significantly more important values are
are
students more important is
and Nature & Art beauty.
6.3.Links between coping behaviour, values and adaptation of international students
According to a survey of students of all groups, socio-cultural adaptation passes successfully for
those who prefer active coping strategies:
with cognitive actions:
with the social contacts are of great importance for international students, since communication in a
foreign language is always linked with great difficulties, and lack of knowledge or poor knowledge of the
language reinforced these difficulties. Therefore, the possibility of coming into social contact is a
fundamental factor contributing to the adaptation of international students, reducing the stress of
acculturation and allowing to solve necessary household and educational issues.
Table
in all ethnic groups are positively correlated with the strategy
relationship among African students). However, other characteristics of students associated with this
strategy differ. Thus, among Turkmen students
Accepting responsibility and the value Public recognition. Among Mongol students Social joining is
positively associated with the strategy
Escape
positively correlated with the strategy of
manipulative behavior and values of Self-Respect and Freedom from inner contradictions.
Thus, we see that
of coping strategies and life values, i.e. has a different personal meaning. Among Turkmen students social
factors and responsible behavior are of great importance, among Mongol and African students more
important are individual factors and caution in social interaction. The reasons of differences in correlation
interrelations require further cross-cultural studies.
7.Conclusion
The obtained results give the possibility to justify the choice of certain strategies, forms and
methods of psychological support of international students.
For example, high values of indicators of the use of strategies
of this ethnic group forms of learning tasks that require independence are possible.
African students have high rates of strategy
Self-control, Accepting responsibility, Planful problem-solving. Consequently, for representatives of this
ethnic group the leading role of the teacher and positive interpersonal relationships are very important.
The study of the factor
students` adaptation processes. Formed social network (relatives, acquaintances, friends, and not virtual
social networks) stays at home, and young people in the conditions of a new socio-cultural reality often
need advice, sympathy, and friendly support. The ability and desire of a man to seek the support of the
people can help solve many vital problems and find the correct way out of difficult situations.
The study of the behavior of international students in stressful situations that are associated with
adaptation to a new society showed that Mongolian and African students more actively involve in the
adaptation processes than Turkmen students.
It can be assumed that social joining among different groups of students is motivated by a different
set of reasons and has different personal meaning that requires further research.
The obtained results should be considered when resolving conflicts in multi-ethnic student team.
The correct interpretation of the behavior of international students in the process of training and education
will contribute to their successful social and cultural adaptation. The focus on universal values in the
process of psychological support has a positive effect on the psychological climate in a multi-ethnic
student group, smoothening the symptoms of culture shock.
Acknowledgments
Authors express their deep gratitude to the students and lecturers of St. Petersburg State University and Russian State Hydrometeorological University for being the study subjects and preparing this article.
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Cite this article as:
Darinskaia, L., Moskvicheva, N., & Molodtsova, G. (2017). Psychological Support Programs For Foreign Students: Accounting Values And Coping Strategies. In Z. Bekirogullari, M. Y. Minas, & R. X. Thambusamy (Eds.), Clinical & Counselling Psychology - CPSYC 2017, vol 22. European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences (pp. 32-41). Future Academy. https://doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2017.05.5