The Role of Attachment, Travel Experiences and English Proficiency in International Students’ Acculturative Stress and Depressive Symptoms

Authors

  • Iskra Smiljanic Department of Psychology, Kings County Hospital Center

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i2.322

Keywords:

international students, attachment, acculturative stress, depression, English

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between attachment, travel experiences, and English proficiency and international students’ acculturative stress and depressive symptoms. A total of 91 graduate international students completed online surveys. Pearson correlations showed that both attachment anxiety and avoidance were positively correlated with depressive symptoms, while only attachment anxiety was positively correlated with acculturative stress. Acculturative stress was significantly higher for those participants who never traveled abroad prior to moving to the US. Additionally, lower scores on the speaking section of the TOEFL exam were related to more acculturative stress. Implications for outreach, counseling, and future research are discussed.

Author Biography

  • Iskra Smiljanic, Department of Psychology, Kings County Hospital Center

    ISKRA SMILJANIC, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who has experience working with international students in US college counseling centers. Her areas of interest include the psychological impact of immigration, attachment, and the development of prevention/intervention programs addressing the cultural adjustment process.

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Published

2017-04-01

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Research Articles (English)

License

All published articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Unported License.

How to Cite

The Role of Attachment, Travel Experiences and English Proficiency in International Students’ Acculturative Stress and Depressive Symptoms. (2017). Journal of International Students, 7(2), 188-203. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i2.322