Belonging, identity and Third Culture Kids

Abstract

This article is based on a multiple case study which examines the lives of a group of 11 former international school students who all attended an international school between 20 and 50 years ago. The research design was based on a review of the literature on third culture kids and adult third culture kids, covering emotional and relational issues such as sense of belonging, identity and the nature of relationships formed. Data were gathered through both postal questionnaires and indepth interviews and multi-dimensional pictures of the lives of the former international students have been generated. Links between the literature and personal experiences are explored.

The effect of immigration, acculturation and multicompetence on personality profiles of Israeli multilinguals

“…compared to non-immigrant teenagers), 20% of immigrant teenagers scored higher on depression, especially females. Fail, Thompson, and Walker (2004) focused on the relationships between identity, sense of belonging and the nature of relationships of immigrant children through a multiple case study. Their participants were former international school students who all attended an international school between 20 and 50 years ago.…”

Identity, Family, and Faith: U.S. Third Culture Kids Transition to College

“…TCKs can experience significant adjustment issues, identity crisis, and culture shock if they are not well prepared to attend college in their passport country (Fail et al, 2004). Huff (2001) found no significant difference between missionary kids and non-missionary kids on the adjustment to college measurements.…”

“…When U.S. TCKs transition to college, they negotiate repatriation into their country of nationality, navigate cultural shock (Fail, Thompson, & Walker, 2004), and engage in developmental tasks common to all emerging adults, such as exploration of purpose, love, work, and worldviews (Arnett, 2000). Prior to college, many TCKs lived in different locations and attended various schools often leaving them feeling "rootless" (Walters & Auton-Cuff, 2009) as if home was everywhere and nowhere (Pollock & Van Reken, 2001;Schaetti & Ramsey, 1999).…”

The Transnational Child

“…Where children are concerned, much of the research that does exist on identity and the experience of migration has been conducted with children attending international schools (see Fail et al, 2004;McLachlan, 2007;Grimshaw & Sears, 2008). These students have been referred to as Global Nomads or Third Culture Kids and are attending the particular school because their parent or parents are working overseas for a period, or because their parents desired a specific schooling experience that was not available locally.…”