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Acculturative stress, social support, and career outcome expectations among international students

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Abstract

Framed by Social Cognitive Career Theory, the current study examined relationships between acculturative stress, social support from the host country, and career outcome expectations among international students in the United States of America (N = 555). Results indicated that acculturative stress was negatively related to social support and career outcome expectations. Additionally, decreased social support indirectly and partially explained relationships between acculturative stress and outcome expectations. Findings suggest that in order to promote more positive career outcome expectations for international students, counselors should not only address acculturative stress, but also its influence on host country social support.

Résumé

Stress acculturatif, soutien social, aspirations professionnelles chez les étudiants internationaux Basée sur la Théorie Sociale Cognitive des Carrières, la présente étude a étudié les relations entre le stress acculturatif, le soutien social du pays d’accueil, et les aspirations professionnelles chez les étudiants internationaux aux États-Unis (N = 555). Les résultats indiquent que le stress acculturatif a eu un lien négatif avec le soutien social et les aspirations professionnelles. De plus, une diminution de soutien social a indirectement et partiellement expliqué la relation entre le stress acculturatif et les aspirations professionnelles. Les résultats suggèrent que, afin de promouvoir des aspirations professionnelles plus positives chez les étudiants internationaux, les conseillers en orientation devraient non seulement aborder le stress acculturatif mais aussi son influence sur le soutien social du pays d’accueil.

Zusammenfassung

Akkulturativer Stress, soziale Unterstützung und berufliche Ergebniserwartungen von International Students Die Studie untersucht auf der Basis der sozial-kognitiven Laufbahntheorie die Zusammenhänge zwischen akkulturativem Stress, sozialer Unterstützung durch das Gastland und beruflichen Ergebniserwartungen von International Students in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika (N = 555). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass akkulturativer Stress negativ mit sozialer Unterstützung und beruflichen Ergebniserwartungen zusammenhängt. Darüber hinaus erklärt die soziale Unterstützung indirekt mindestens teilweise den Zusammenhang zwischen akkulturativem Stress und beruflichen Ergebniserwartungen. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass Beratungspersonen zur Förderung positiver beruflicher Ergebniserwartungen von International Students nicht nur den akkulturativen Stress, sondern auch seinen Einfluss auf die soziale Unterstützung des Gastlandes berücksichtigen sollten.

Resumen

Estrés aculturativo, soporte social y expectativas de Carrera entre estudiantes internacionales Enmarcado en la teoria sociocognitiva de la Carrera, este studio examinó las relaciones entre el estrés aculturativo, el apoyo social del país de acogida y las espectativas de resultado de la Carrera entre estudiantes internacionales en los Estados Unidos de América (N = 555). Los resultados indicaron que el estres aculturativo estava relacionado negativamente con el apoyo social y las espectativas de resultado de la Carrera. Adicionalmente, un apoyo social decreciente explicó indirectamente y parcialmente las relaciones entre el estres aculturativo y las expectativas de resultado. Los hallazgos sugieren que para promover unas espectativas de resultado de la Carrera más positivas en estudiantes internacionales, los orientadores no solo deben attender al estres aculturativo sinó también a su influencia en el apoyo social del país de acogida.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Counseling and Psychological Services, Georgia State University, 30 Pryor Street, 9th Floor, Atlanta, GA, 30307, USA

    Marisa Franco & Jeffrey S. Ashby

  2. Tainan Theological College and Seminary, 701, East District, Tainan City, Taiwan

    Yi-Shi Hsiao

  3. Department of Counseling and Special Education, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1015 W. Main St, Richmond, VA, 23284, USA

    Philip B. Gnilka

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  1. Marisa Franco
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  2. Yi-Shi Hsiao
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  3. Philip B. Gnilka
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  4. Jeffrey S. Ashby
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Correspondence to Marisa Franco.

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Franco, M., Hsiao, YS., Gnilka, P.B. et al. Acculturative stress, social support, and career outcome expectations among international students. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 19, 275–291 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-018-9380-7

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