A systematic review of predictors of international students’ cross-cultural adjustment in China: current knowledge and agenda for future research

• Published in: Asia Pacific education review Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 45 - 67
• Main Authors: Cao, Chun, Meng, Qian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; 교육연구소
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Acculturation; Asian Culture; Chinese culture; College Science; Cross Cultural Training; Cultural Differences; Education; Educational Research; Foreign Countries; Foreign Students; Goal Orientation; Industrial Psychology; Minority Groups; Predictor Variables; Self Efficacy; Social Adjustment; Student Adjustment; Systematic review; Well Being; 교육학; China; JD-R Model; Cross-cultural adjustment; Systematic review; International student; China
• ISSN: 1598-1037; 1876-407X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12564-021-09700-1

China has emerged as one of the leading destinations for international students, attracting growing research interest in examining their cross-cultural adjustment. Our study moved beyond prior work by offering the first systematic review on predictors of international student adjustment in China, with all its three domains taken into consideration: psychological, sociocultural and academic adjustment. Based on the 33 reviewed articles, a wide range of predictors were identified. Guided by the Job Demands-Resources Model, these predictors were categorized into six broad clusters: demographics, personal resources, contextual resources, personal demands/barriers, contextual demands/resources, and other variables. The reviewed studies placed more emphasis on predictors in resources clusters than on those in demands/barriers clusters. Research strengths, gaps and inconsistencies in the literature were identified and discussed. Accordingly, an agenda was developed to highlight opportunities for theoretical and empirical advancement for future research.