International undergraduate student adjustment in a community as a function of motivation, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, participation in activities, and English language skills

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1993
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Barratt, Mary
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Mary E. Huba
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Curriculum and Instruction
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This study investigated the relationships among several variables and the adjustment of international undergraduate students at Iowa State University to the community in which the university is located. Mail surveys were sent to international undergraduates who had been enrolled at Iowa State University for one year or more, and 170 usable surveys were returned;Findings supported certain of the hypotheses. Specifically, adjustment, as measured the evaluation of the experience with the people of community, is positively related to interpersonal relationships with Americans, written and oral/aural English language skills, and region of origin. Adjustment, as measured by the evaluation of the experience with the city itself, is positively related to oral/aural English language skills. No significant relationship between motivation for being in the United States, campus and community programs and amenities the students used, gender, or involvement with a church or other religious organization and adjustment was found;Interpersonal relationships were found also to be positively related to the students' self-esteem at the present time, as well as to their written and oral/aural English language skills. Self-esteem was also positively related to written and oral/aural English language skills. The self-esteem of international students at home and at present did not differ significantly;When interpersonal relationships were predicted from a combination of predictor variables, the results of the stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that interpersonal relationships could be predicted primarily by oral/aural English language skills, and additionally by gender, self-esteem at present, and integrative motivation;Stepwise multiple regression analyses also revealed that adjustment, as measured by the evaluation with the city, could be predicted by the evaluation of the experience with the people. Adjustment, as measured by the evaluation of the experience with the people, could be predicted by the evaluation of the experience with the city and by interpersonal relationships.

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Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 1993