When You Have Lived in a Different Culture, Does Returning ‘Home’ Not Feel Like Home? Predictors of Psychological Readjustment to the Heritage Culture

Abstract

Many repatriates find it challenging to readjust to their heritage culture after spending a significant period of time abroad. Research on predictors of readjustment, however, remains limited. The present study in particular investigated the identification of third culture individuals (TCIs) – that is, individuals who spent their formative years outside of their heritage culture - with an abstract, third culture. Our findings demonstrated that TCIs’ identification with the third culture was empirically distinct from that of the heritage and host cultures. The present study further examined whether several variables – sojourner type (TCI vs. non-TCI), perceived conflict between heritage and host culture, perceived cultural distance, and cultural identification with heritage and other cultures – predicted psychological readjustment (stress, anxiety, depression and overall psychological readjustment). The results showed that strong heritage culture identification was associated with better psychological readjustment, whereas cultural conflict was generally associated with poorer readjustment. Furthermore, sojourner type significantly moderated the latter association, such that cultural conflict predicted the stress aspect of psychological readjustment for non-TCIs, but not for TCIs. As the present investigation is the first study to empirically establish identification with a ‘third culture’ we discuss implications for the literature on third culture individuals and psychological adjustment upon re-entry.

Peer Review #1 of "Temperament and character effects on late adolescents’ well-being and emotional-behavioural difficulties (v0.1)"

“…Notwithstanding, we found that ST was not predictive of adolescents' psychosocial adjustment (Table 4); moreover, although not significant, there was a marginal positive relation between ST and NA. In addition to provide partial support to previously reported associations between ST and psychiatry problems in adolescents (Consoli et al, 2015) and schizotypy traits in adults (Brambilla et al, 2014), these data indicate that the PeerJ reviewing PDF | (2017:12:22741:1:1:NEW 19 Feb 2018)…”

Monitoring Moral Virtue: When the Moral Transgressions of In-Group Members Are Judged More Severely

“…First, participants completed a modified version of the Vancouver Index of Acculturation (VIA; Ryder, Alden, & Paulhus, 2000), translated into Dutch, which measures the extent to which they identify with mainstream Dutch culture (α = .79) and with their religion (α = .86). Previous studies have shown that the VIA can be used as a reliable measure of cultural identification (e.g., Altweck & Marshall, 2015; Cheung, Chudek, & Heine, 2011). Participants indicated to what extent they agreed with 20 statements on a 9-point scale, ranging from 1 ( disagree ) to 9 ( agree ).…”

Education Professionals as Facilitators of Study Abroad Programs in Spain: Formal Training Needs

“…In doing so, they need to rely on and trust in what we can call "limit objects, " which can help them as a bridge between both cultures; these objects "can be adapted to both cultures according to the individual's needs while keeping their own identity along the way" (Star & Griesemer as cited in Akkermman & Bakker, 2011, p. 134). The process of transferring from one culture to the other results in what we can call "third culture, " which creates a learning environment where students share aspects of the target culture in a lifestyle they had in their home culture (Altweck & Marshall, 2015;Wolcott, 2010). What is more important, students need to keep an active role and a positive attitude (Bennett, 2004;Carini, Kuh, & Klein, 2006;Carlson & Widaman, 1988;Engberg, Jourian, & Davidson, 2016;Félix-Brasdefer & Haster-Barker, 2015;Trilokekar & Rasmi, 2011).…”