Reentry adjustment of short-term student sojourners: A test of the U-curve hypothesis

This study examined the U-Curve Hypothesis for sojourner reentry adjustment by using a time series design with 6 biweekly time waves during reentry. Study abroad students (n = 62) returned to their US homes and then to college after 3 months overseas. A US-based control group (n = 21) returned to college on the same time schedule. Adjustment difficulties were measured by the Global Severity Index (GSI) from the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). As expected, both measures were significantly negatively correlated with the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Exploratory data analysis and growth curve trend analysis did not support the U-Curve for reentry adjustment at either the individual or group levels. Contrary to hypothesis, groups did not experience reentry maladjustment in inverse proportion to their host country's Gross National Product per capita. Controls were significantly higher than the combined overseas groups for GSI week-3 after returning, and for both GSI and CES-D week-9. Previous experience living overseas was significantly positively correlated with reentry difficulties during reentry to college. In addition, the proportion who reported depressive symptomatology (CES-D $>$ 15) during at least one time wave was not associated with country of sojourn ($\chi\sp2$ = 3.21, df = 4, p =.524). The overseas group had a significantly higher percentage (48%) above the CES-D criterion compared to the US controls (15%) the first week after returning home ($\chi\sp2$ = 6.88, df = 1, p.009), whereas the controls had a higher percentage than the overseas students (50% vs. 20%, respectively) the third week after returning to college ($\chi\sp2$ = 4.84, df = 1, p =.028). Adaptation of sojourners overseas as measured by the Culture Shock Adaptation Inventory was not significantly correlated with reentry adjustment.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Nafziger, Kenneth Lee

Contributors dc:contributor

• Harmon, Lenore W.

• Social Work
• Education, Guidance and Counseling
• Psychology, Clinical
• Education, Higher

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1996 Nafziger, Kenneth Lee

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

9780591198416
AAI9712384
(UMI)AAI9712384

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/19600