Cultural Anxiety and Its Impact on Students- Life: A Case Study of International Students in Wuhan University
This article illustrates that how non similar culture become a cause of constant anxiety among international students in China. For that, a survey was carried out among international students of Wuhan University, China. The association among non similar culture, non familiarity of Chinese culture, self finance students and food problem is looked at through a regression line, and in the light of empirical results, a model is anticipated which elucidates these results. Some suggestions were directed at the end which will help to mitigate the anxiety among prospective students in Chinese universities.
[1] O. Klineberg, "Psychological aspects of student exchange", in I. Eide
(ed.), Psychological Science 1, 1970, pp. 133-137.
[2] A.J. Mestenhauser, "Learning from sojourners", in D. Landis and R.W.
Brislin (eds.), Handbook of Intercultural Learning (Volume 2), 1983, pp.
153-185.
[3] M.R. Paige, "International Students: Cross-cultural psychological
perspectives", in R.W. Brislin (ed.), Applied Cross-Cultural Psychology
(Sage Publications, London), 1990, pp. 161-185.
[4] M. Zikopoulos, Open Doors. 1988-89: "Report on International Students
Exchanges". New York: Institute of International Education, 1989.
[5] P.G. Altbach, "Impact and Adjustment: Foreign Students in Comparative
Perspective", Higher Education, vol. 21, no. 3, April 1991, pp. 305-323.
[6] Chinese Scholarship Council (Annual Report 2008):
http://en.csc.edu.cn/Nianbao/
[7] Institute of International Education:
http://www.atlas.iienetwork.org/?p=48027
[8] Y.H. Jou and H. Fukada, "Stress and social support in mental and
physical health of Chinese students in Japan", Psychological Reports 81,
1997 pp. 39-47.
[9] D.L. Sam and R. Eide, "Survey of mental health of foreign students",
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 32, 1991, pp. 22-30.
[10] Y. Ying and L.H. Liese: 1991, "Emotional well-being of Taiwan foreign
students in the US: An examination of pre- to post-arrival differential",
International Journal of Intercultural Relations 15, 1991, pp. 345-366.
[11] A. Furnham and S. Bochner, "Social difficulty in foreign culture: An
empirical analysis of culture shock", in S. Bochner (ed.), Cultures in
Contact: Studies in Cross-cultural Interactions (Pergamon, London),
1982.
[12] A. Furnham and S. Bochner, Cultural Shock: Psychological Reactions to
Unfamiliar Environments (Methuen, London), 1986.
[13] H. Kagan and J. Cohen, "Cultural adjustment of international students",
Psychological Science 1, 1990, pp. 133-137.
[14] C. Ward and A. Kennedy: "Where-s the "culture" in cross-cultural
transitions? Comparative studies of sojourner adjustment", Journal of
Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 24, 1993, pp. 221-249.
[15] P. Aich, "Asian and African Students in West German Universities",
Minerva: A Review of Science, 1963, pp. 429-462.
[16] Y.Y. Kim, "Communication patterns of foreign immigrants in the
process of acculturation". Human Communication Research. vol. 4, no.1
Fall, 1977, pp. 66-77.
[17] J.F. Fletcher and R.E. Stren, "Language Skills and Adaptation: A Study
of Foreign Students in a Canadian University", Curriculum Inquiry, vol.
19, no. 3, 1989, pp. 293-308.
[18] Y. Amir, "Contact hypothesis in ethnic relations", Psychological
Bulletin, vol. 71, 1969, pp. 319-342.
[19] B. Baron and P. Brachman, "Studying abroad in western Europe: A
bibliography", European Journal of Education 22, 1987, pp. 5-17.
[20] W. B. Gudykunst and Y. Y. Kim, Communication with strangers: An
approach to intercultural communication (4th ed.). New York:
McGraw-Hill, 2003.
[21] B. D. Paul, "The Rational Bias in the Perception of Cultural
Differences", Economic Development and Cultural Change, vol. 1, no.
2, 1952, pp. 132-138.
[22] H. Sarles, "Abstracts in Human Communications II", International
Journal of American Linguistics, vol. 34, no. 4, 1968, pp. 282-287.
[23] W. Kalin, "Troubled Communication: Cross-Cultural
Misunderstandings in the Asylum-Hearing", International Migration
Review, vol. 20, no. 2, 1986, pp. 230-241.
[24] B. Shan, "Anxiete et communication interculturelle en situation
d-urgence", Communication &Organisation, 2006.
[25] M. Brein and K. H. David, "Intercultural Communication and the
Adjustment of the Sojourner", Psychological Bulletin, vol. 76, no. 3,
1971, pp. 215-230.
[26] G. A. Barnett and D. L. Kincaid, "Cultural Convergence". In W. B.
Gudykunst (Ed.), Intercultural communication theory. Beverly Hills,
1983, pp. 171-194.
[27] W. B. Gudykunst, "Uncertainty and anxiety". In Y. Y. Kim & W. B.
Gudykunst (Eds.), Theories in intercultural communication, Newbury
Park, Ca: Sage, 1986, pp. 123-156.
[28] Kim. Witte, "A theory of cognition and negative effect: extending
Gudykunst and Hammer-s theory of uncertainty and anxiety reduction".
International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 17, 1993,
pp.197-215.
[29] M. R. Hammer, M. J. Bennett and R. Wiseman "Measuring Intercultural
Sensitivity; the intercultural development inventory", International
Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 27, 2003, pp. 421-443.
[30] J. P. Spradley and M. Phillips, "Culture and Stress: A Quantitative
Analysis", American Anthropologist, vol. 74, no. 3, 1972, pp. 518-529.
[31] K. Oberg, "Culture Shock", Indianapolis: Boobs-Merrill Company,
1954.
[32] N. M. Sussman, "The dynamic nature of cultural identity throughout
cultural transitions: Why home is not so sweet". Personality and Social
Psychology Review, vol. 4, 2000, pp. 355-373.
[33] W. Kracke, "Encounter with Other Cultures: Psychological and
Epistemological Aspects", Ethos, vol. 15, no. 1, 1987, pp. 58-81.
[34] V. Stolcke, "Talking Culture: New Boundaries, New Rhetorics of
Exclusion in Europe", Current Anthropology, vol. 36, no. 1, 1995, pp.
1-24.
[35] G. Gao and W.B. Gudykunst, "Uncertainty, anxiety, and adaptation".
International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol.14, 1990. pp.
301-317.
[36] Y.Y. Kim, Communication and cross-cultural adaptation: An integrative
theory. Philadelphia: Multi-Lingual Matters, 1988.
[37] W.B. Gudykunst and M.R. Hammer, "The influence of social identity
and intimacy of interethnic relationships on uncertainty reduction
processes". Human Communication Research, vol. 14, 1988, pp.
569-601.
[38] W.B. Gudykunst and S. Sudweeks, "Applying a theory of intercultural
adaptation". In W. Gudykunst & Y. Kim (Eds.), Readings on
communicating with strangers. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1992.
[1] O. Klineberg, "Psychological aspects of student exchange", in I. Eide
(ed.), Psychological Science 1, 1970, pp. 133-137.
[2] A.J. Mestenhauser, "Learning from sojourners", in D. Landis and R.W.
Brislin (eds.), Handbook of Intercultural Learning (Volume 2), 1983, pp.
153-185.
[3] M.R. Paige, "International Students: Cross-cultural psychological
perspectives", in R.W. Brislin (ed.), Applied Cross-Cultural Psychology
(Sage Publications, London), 1990, pp. 161-185.
[4] M. Zikopoulos, Open Doors. 1988-89: "Report on International Students
Exchanges". New York: Institute of International Education, 1989.
[5] P.G. Altbach, "Impact and Adjustment: Foreign Students in Comparative
Perspective", Higher Education, vol. 21, no. 3, April 1991, pp. 305-323.
[6] Chinese Scholarship Council (Annual Report 2008):
http://en.csc.edu.cn/Nianbao/
[7] Institute of International Education:
http://www.atlas.iienetwork.org/?p=48027
[8] Y.H. Jou and H. Fukada, "Stress and social support in mental and
physical health of Chinese students in Japan", Psychological Reports 81,
1997 pp. 39-47.
[9] D.L. Sam and R. Eide, "Survey of mental health of foreign students",
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 32, 1991, pp. 22-30.
[10] Y. Ying and L.H. Liese: 1991, "Emotional well-being of Taiwan foreign
students in the US: An examination of pre- to post-arrival differential",
International Journal of Intercultural Relations 15, 1991, pp. 345-366.
[11] A. Furnham and S. Bochner, "Social difficulty in foreign culture: An
empirical analysis of culture shock", in S. Bochner (ed.), Cultures in
Contact: Studies in Cross-cultural Interactions (Pergamon, London),
1982.
[12] A. Furnham and S. Bochner, Cultural Shock: Psychological Reactions to
Unfamiliar Environments (Methuen, London), 1986.
[13] H. Kagan and J. Cohen, "Cultural adjustment of international students",
Psychological Science 1, 1990, pp. 133-137.
[14] C. Ward and A. Kennedy: "Where-s the "culture" in cross-cultural
transitions? Comparative studies of sojourner adjustment", Journal of
Cross-Cultural Psychology, vol. 24, 1993, pp. 221-249.
[15] P. Aich, "Asian and African Students in West German Universities",
Minerva: A Review of Science, 1963, pp. 429-462.
[16] Y.Y. Kim, "Communication patterns of foreign immigrants in the
process of acculturation". Human Communication Research. vol. 4, no.1
Fall, 1977, pp. 66-77.
[17] J.F. Fletcher and R.E. Stren, "Language Skills and Adaptation: A Study
of Foreign Students in a Canadian University", Curriculum Inquiry, vol.
19, no. 3, 1989, pp. 293-308.
[18] Y. Amir, "Contact hypothesis in ethnic relations", Psychological
Bulletin, vol. 71, 1969, pp. 319-342.
[19] B. Baron and P. Brachman, "Studying abroad in western Europe: A
bibliography", European Journal of Education 22, 1987, pp. 5-17.
[20] W. B. Gudykunst and Y. Y. Kim, Communication with strangers: An
approach to intercultural communication (4th ed.). New York:
McGraw-Hill, 2003.
[21] B. D. Paul, "The Rational Bias in the Perception of Cultural
Differences", Economic Development and Cultural Change, vol. 1, no.
2, 1952, pp. 132-138.
[22] H. Sarles, "Abstracts in Human Communications II", International
Journal of American Linguistics, vol. 34, no. 4, 1968, pp. 282-287.
[23] W. Kalin, "Troubled Communication: Cross-Cultural
Misunderstandings in the Asylum-Hearing", International Migration
Review, vol. 20, no. 2, 1986, pp. 230-241.
[24] B. Shan, "Anxiete et communication interculturelle en situation
d-urgence", Communication &Organisation, 2006.
[25] M. Brein and K. H. David, "Intercultural Communication and the
Adjustment of the Sojourner", Psychological Bulletin, vol. 76, no. 3,
1971, pp. 215-230.
[26] G. A. Barnett and D. L. Kincaid, "Cultural Convergence". In W. B.
Gudykunst (Ed.), Intercultural communication theory. Beverly Hills,
1983, pp. 171-194.
[27] W. B. Gudykunst, "Uncertainty and anxiety". In Y. Y. Kim & W. B.
Gudykunst (Eds.), Theories in intercultural communication, Newbury
Park, Ca: Sage, 1986, pp. 123-156.
[28] Kim. Witte, "A theory of cognition and negative effect: extending
Gudykunst and Hammer-s theory of uncertainty and anxiety reduction".
International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 17, 1993,
pp.197-215.
[29] M. R. Hammer, M. J. Bennett and R. Wiseman "Measuring Intercultural
Sensitivity; the intercultural development inventory", International
Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol. 27, 2003, pp. 421-443.
[30] J. P. Spradley and M. Phillips, "Culture and Stress: A Quantitative
Analysis", American Anthropologist, vol. 74, no. 3, 1972, pp. 518-529.
[31] K. Oberg, "Culture Shock", Indianapolis: Boobs-Merrill Company,
1954.
[32] N. M. Sussman, "The dynamic nature of cultural identity throughout
cultural transitions: Why home is not so sweet". Personality and Social
Psychology Review, vol. 4, 2000, pp. 355-373.
[33] W. Kracke, "Encounter with Other Cultures: Psychological and
Epistemological Aspects", Ethos, vol. 15, no. 1, 1987, pp. 58-81.
[34] V. Stolcke, "Talking Culture: New Boundaries, New Rhetorics of
Exclusion in Europe", Current Anthropology, vol. 36, no. 1, 1995, pp.
1-24.
[35] G. Gao and W.B. Gudykunst, "Uncertainty, anxiety, and adaptation".
International Journal of Intercultural Relations, vol.14, 1990. pp.
301-317.
[36] Y.Y. Kim, Communication and cross-cultural adaptation: An integrative
theory. Philadelphia: Multi-Lingual Matters, 1988.
[37] W.B. Gudykunst and M.R. Hammer, "The influence of social identity
and intimacy of interethnic relationships on uncertainty reduction
processes". Human Communication Research, vol. 14, 1988, pp.
569-601.
[38] W.B. Gudykunst and S. Sudweeks, "Applying a theory of intercultural
adaptation". In W. Gudykunst & Y. Kim (Eds.), Readings on
communicating with strangers. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1992.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:59792", author = "Nadeem Akhtar and Shan Bo", title = "Cultural Anxiety and Its Impact on Students- Life: A Case Study of International Students in Wuhan University", abstract = "This article illustrates that how non similar culture become a cause of constant anxiety among international students in China. For that, a survey was carried out among international students of Wuhan University, China. The association among non similar culture, non familiarity of Chinese culture, self finance students and food problem is looked at through a regression line, and in the light of empirical results, a model is anticipated which elucidates these results. Some suggestions were directed at the end which will help to mitigate the anxiety among prospective students in Chinese universities.
", keywords = "Anxiety, international students, non similar culture,Wuhan University", volume = "4", number = "6", pages = "1242-7", }
