Dual Mediating Roles of Emotional Intelligence and Coping Strategy in the Link between Cultural Intelligence and Acculturation for African Immigrants in South Korea

Abstract This study explored how culturally specific skills and years spent in South Korea is associated with African immigrants’ acculturation experience, and also examined the mediating roles of coping strategies and emotional intelligence in the link between cultural intelligence and acculturation. Using a correlational, causal and mediation quantitative research design, data for 302 African immigrants living in South Korea, selected through purposive sampling were analysed using SPSS PROCESS macro. The result revealed a significant association between acculturation and African immigrants’ Korean language proficiency and length of stay. Further findings revealed Emotional intelligence and coping had dual mediating role in the relation between cultural intelligence and acculturation. These findings suggest emotional intelligence and coping strategies are critical factors in the acculturation of African immigrants in South Korea. It was recommended that African Immigrants in South Korea, Korean policy makers and administrators of Graduate schools in South Korea should implement strategies that promote high levels of acculturation, cultural intelligence, emotional intelligence and Korean language proficiency amongst immigrants. Keywords: African immigrants, cultural intelligence, acculturation, emotional intelligence, coping strategy, language proficiency, duration of stay