An Exploration on the Attachment, Acculturation, and Psychosocial Adjustment of Chinese International Students in Japan

Authors

  • Mengxi Yin Cleveland State University, USA
  • Kikuyo Aoki Ochanomizu University, Japan
  • Kelly Yu-Hsin Liao Cleveland State University, USA
  • Hui Xu Loyola University Chicago, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v11i1.1454

Keywords:

acculturation, attachment, Chinese international students, Japan, psychosocial adjustment

Abstract

In this study, we selected Chinese students (N = 277) studying in Japan as research participants to examine the relation among their attachment, acculturation, and psychosocial adjustment. The study’s first finding revealed that Chinese students studying in Japan had a better adjustment outcome than those in America in terms of sociocultural adjustment but not psychological adjustment. The second set of findings from the results of hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that psychological distress and sociocultural adjustment could be predicted by attachment anxiety and avoidance. Third, we found a positive correlation between acculturation to the host culture and sociocultural adjustment difficulties. Fourth, we did not find a correlation between acculturation to the host culture and attachment anxiety and avoidance. We offer a discussion on the findings and limitations in light of the unique Japanese sociocultural context.

Author Biographies

  • Mengxi Yin, Cleveland State University, USA

    MENGXI YIN is a doctoral student in the Department of Counseling Psychology at Cleveland State University. Her major research interests lie in the area of cross-cultural adjustment

  • Kikuyo Aoki, Ochanomizu University, Japan

    KIKUYO AOKI, PhD, is an associate professor in clinical and developmental psychology at Ochanomizu University. She studies attachment, mother–infant emotional interactions and school mental health.

  • Kelly Yu-Hsin Liao, Cleveland State University, USA

    KELLY YU-HSIN LIAO, PhD, is an assistant professor in the doctoral specialization in Counseling Psychology at Cleveland State University. She studies minority-related stress, positive psychology, and health psychology in ethnic minorities.

  • Hui Xu, Loyola University Chicago, USA

    HUI XU, PhD, is an assistant professor in counseling psychology at Loyola University Chicago. His scholarship focuses on vocational, counseling science, assessment, and cross-cultural issues.

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Published

2021-02-23

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How to Cite

An Exploration on the Attachment, Acculturation, and Psychosocial Adjustment of Chinese International Students in Japan. (2021). Journal of International Students, 11(1), 176-194. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v11i1.1454