The Relationship between Proactive Personality and Cross-cultural Adjustment on International Students in South Korea: Mediating Role of Cultural Intelligence

Abstract

Adjusting to a new culture is a stressful process, and international students face various problems, such as stress, anxiety, isolation, and depression due to poor psychological and sociocultural adjustment to the new unfamiliar environment. This study explored the relationship between proactive personality and Cross-cultural adjustment with the mediation role of cultural intelligence (CQ) in South Korea. The sample of 167 international students studying in South Korea universities completed measures of cultural intelligence (CQ), proactive personality, psychological and sociocultural adjustment(together cross-cultural adjustment). The results showed that international students‟ cross-cultural adjustment is significantly related to cultural intelligence and proactive personality. Additionally, cultural intelligence is found to fully mediate the relationship between proactive personality and cross-cultural adjustment. The study suggests that cultural intelligence training and support services should be provided to facilitate the cross-cultural adjustment of international students.