Date

12-19-2023

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)

Chair

Frederick Volk

Keywords

international student, acculturation, resilience, counseling, self-concept, shame, postsecondary, family

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

This study highlights the unique experiences of international students while they pursue higher education, manage adjustment issues, and navigate internal struggles. To explore whether English proficiency and family expectations correlate with self-concept and acculturation resilience, this study focused on the acculturation process, incorporating aspects of shame and self-concept that contribute to a student’s motivation and resilience. International students commonly face academic and personal challenges while adjusting to an environment that requires fluency in English. Additionally, many experience the pressure of high expectations from their families in their countries of origin. This study used a sociocultural approach to explore how international students’ interactions, cultural practices, and belief systems influence their adjustment process while they are living and studying in Canada or the United States. A sample of 69 postsecondary international students completed the External and Internal Shame Scale, the Family Almost Perfect Scale, the Personal Self-Concept Questionnaire, and the Acculturation and Resilience Scale. Initiatives associated with campus counseling programming were reviewed along with administrative strategies for student services that demonstrate cultural awareness and address more effectively the needs of international students.

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