Self-Construals, Coping, and Stress in Cross-Cultural Adaptation

Abstract

This study examines differences in the independent and interdependent self-construals of American and East Asian students studying in the United States and the influence of these self-construals on coping and stress. Path analysis revealed that the importance of the independent self-construal was positively related to direct coping strategies, which predicted reduced levels of stress for the international students. Ratings of the importance of the interdependent self-construal were positively related to increased stress for the Asian students. The self-constuals and direct coping were the strongest predictors of stress for East Asian students; variables commonly identified in other research addressing cross-cultural adaptation (e.g., number of host country friends, relationships with conationals, language ability, and previous cross-cultural experience) did not significantly predict stress for the international students. The effects of the self-construals and coping were moderated by culture, however, and were not predictive of perceived stress for American students.