Skip to main content
Log in

Growing up Globally: Third Culture Kids’ Experience with Transition, Identity, and Well-Being

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

As globalization increases, there has been a rise in expatriate families and, consequently, students enrolled in international schools. These children, known as third culture kids (TCKs), face difficult transitions, identity development challenges, and adverse social-emotional effects. Transition programs have been developed and implemented by some international schools to assist students living in a third culture; however, extended support and specialized TCKs’ programs that address transition, identity, and emotional issues continues to be largely unavailable. To better serve this ever-increasing population, the current literature is examined, and, arising from this, implications and future directions for helping professionals in international schools are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abe, J. A. (2018). Personality, well-being, and cognitive-affective styles: A cross-sectional study of adult third culture kids. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 49(5), 811–830. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022118761116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams, G. R., Ryan, J. H., Hoffman, J. J., Dobson, W. R., & Nielsen, E. C. (1985). Ego identity status, conformity behavior, and personality in late adolescence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5, 1091–1104.

    Google Scholar 

  • American School Counselors Association. (2019). The ASCA national model: A framework for school counseling programs (4th ed.). Alexandria: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Applied Survey Research. (2011). The effectiveness of link crew in the freshman year of high school as a vehicle of change for academic achievement and adaptive school behavioral outcomes. Retrieved from http://www.boomerangproject.com/sites/default/files/inline_files/linkcrewasr2011_0.pdf.

  • Bates, J. (2013). Administrator perceptions of transition programs in international secondary schools. Journal of Research in International Education, 12(1), 85–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, L. (1997). Hidden immigrants: Legacies of growing up abroad. Notre Dame: Cross Cultural Publications, Inc..

    Google Scholar 

  • Berzonsky, M. D. (2003). Identity style and well-being: Does commitment matter? Identity, 3(2), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532706xid030203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2014). The life span: Human development for helping professionals. New York: Pearson Higher Ed.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cockburn, L. (2002). Children and young people living in changing worlds: The process of assessing and understanding the ‘third culture kid’. School Psychology International, 23(4), 475–485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, R. F. (2018). Supporting students in military families during times of transition: A call for awareness and action. Professional School Counseling, 20(1), 36–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, P., Headley, K., Bazemore, T., Cervo, J., Sickinger, P., Windham, M., & Rehfuss, M. (2010). Evaluating impact of transition seminars on missionary kids’ depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 38(3), 186–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolby, N., & Rahman, A. (2008). Research in international education. American Educational Research Association, 78(3), 676–726.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. (1950). Childhood and society. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. (1968). Identity, youth, and crisis. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. H. (1988). Youth: Fidelity and diversity. Daedalus, 91(1), 5–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fail, H., Thompson, J., & Walker, G. (2004). Belonging, identity, and third culture kids: Life histories of former international school students. Journal of Research in International Education, 3(3), 319–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, K. R. (2008). Loss and grief between and among cultures: The experience of third culture kids. Illness, Crisis, & Loss, 16(2), 93-109. https://doi.org/10.2190/IL.16.2.a.

  • Hayden, M. C., & Thompson, J. J. (2004). International education: Principles and practice. Abington: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayden, M. C., Rancic, B. A., & Thompson, J. J. (2000). Being international: Student and teacher perceptions from international schools. Oxford Review of Education, 26(1), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/030549800103890.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Schools Consultancy. (2018). Data and intel. Retrieved from https://www.iscresearch.com/data

  • International Schools Consultancy. (2020). Data and intel. Retrieved from https://www.iscresearch.com/data

  • Karaś, D., Cieciuch, J., Negru, O., & Crocetti, E. (2014). Relationships between identity and well-being in Italian, polish, and Romanian emerging adults. Social Indicators Research, 121(3), 727–743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-014-0668-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotensky, R. L. (2008). Before you get “Home”: Preparing for Reentry. Wilmore,: New Hope International Ministries.

  • Limberg, D., & Lambie, G. W. (2011). Third culture kids: Implications for professional school counseling. Professional School Counseling, 15(1), 45–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lijadi, A. A., & van Schalkwyk, G. J. (2014). Narratives of third culture kids: Commitment and reticence in social relationships. The Qualitative Report, 19(49), 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcia, J. E. (1980). Identity in adolescence. In J. Adelson (Ed.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 5–187). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGregor, B. D., Renu, G., & Deepa, S. T. (2013). The perception of third culture kids of being different to children of their home country. International Journal of Nursing Education, 5(2), 122–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meier, C. R. (2015). Third culture kids and social media: Identity development and transition in the 21st century (doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database.

  • Morales, A. (2015). Factors affecting third culture kids’ (TCKs) transition. Journal of International Education Research, 11(1), 51–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollock, D. C., & Van Reken, R. E. (2001). Third culture kids: The experience of growing up among worlds. London: Nicholas Brealey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Purnell, L., & Hoban, E. (2014). The lived experiences of third culture kids transitioning into university life in Australia. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 41, 80–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rameker, V.C. (2006). Resilience among third culture kids attending an international school (doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1806/

  • Risch, R. (2008). On the move: Transition programs in international schools (Doctoral dissertation) Retrieved from: http://proquest.umi.com

  • Sears, C. (2011). Integrating multiple identities: Narrative in the formation and maintenance of the self in international school students. Journal of Research in International Education, 10(1), 71–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1475240911399262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toder, N. L., & Marcia, J. E. (1973). Ego identity status and response to conformity pressure in college women. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 26, 287–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Useem, R. H., & Downie, R. D. (1976). Third culture kids. Today's Education: The Journal of the National Education Association, 65, 103–105.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Scott T. Miller.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Miller, S.T., Wiggins, G.M. & Feather, K.A. Growing up Globally: Third Culture Kids’ Experience with Transition, Identity, and Well-Being. Int J Adv Counselling 42, 414–423 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-020-09412-y

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-020-09412-y

Keywords

Navigation