The Influence of Personality Cultural Values Social Support and Pre-Departure Training on Adjustment and Performance on International Students

The present study addressed the impact of individual differences, situation characteristics, and pre-departure training on adjustment and performance among international students. Newly arrived foreign students were assessed during their first semester in an American university. Culture novelty, social support, neuroticism, and pre-departure training were significant predictors of adjustment. Additional findings included improved adjustment by those foreigners who spent more time speaking the host language and interacting with host nationals. Cultural distance was found to be a significant predictor of performance. Implications for future research are discussed.