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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Jun Sung J. Hong
Abstract
This paper explored Arab international students studying in the United States to see whether they face acculturation stress, adjustment, or well-being issues. I found that my sample (N=95) experienced moderately high well-being distress and acculturative stress. However, the sample showed resilience and positive adjustment in all aspects, psychological (M=34.7), social (M=38.5), and academic (M=37.4). Moreover, well-being score from a modified GHQ survey came with high SD, indicating some students were dealing with serious mental issues, while others were doing well (M=42.92, SD=5.52). The majority of my participants were males (74.7%), single (75.8%), and graduate students (50.5%). Chi-square analysis found a significant difference in cultural distance between males and females χ²(2, N = 200) = 53.20, p < .001. Females (75%) report lower cultural distance than males (66.2%). Additionally, the independent t-test found no difference between sex and the use of coping strategies.I conducted various regression modeling for each adjustment subscale and found significance in the predictability of acculturation stress on academic, social, and psychological adjustments. I also conducted a moderation analysis to see if adjustments moderate the relationship between acculturation and well-being. I found conditional effects for Academic adjustment, showing a slope with a 1SD increase, as academic adjustment increased, Acculturation reduced GHQ scores (low AA (b = -.139, p < .001). I did not find any significant moderation for social or psychological adjustments on well-being. Lastly, I recommend that future researchers conduct more in-depth studies on Arab international students, as they are an underrepresented group in the acculturation literature. My study contributes to the literature on acculturation stress, supporting the ABC model by extending its application to the Arab population.
Recommended Citation
Arab, Hassan A A Kh A A, "Examining The Adjustment, Acculturation, And Well-Being Of International Arab Students In The United States: Implications For Policy And Practice" (2025). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4274.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4274