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Acculturative Stress, Attachment Style and Coping Style of Mainland Chinese International Students in the United States

Zheng, Kaifang

Abstract Details

2016, EdD, University of Cincinnati, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Counselor Education.
Prior research has showed that mainland Chinese international students (MCIS), as the largest and fastest-growing international student body in the United States, face high rates of mental health concerns but demonstrate low levels of help-seeking behaviors, such as seeking professional counseling services. The main goal of this study was to investigate the relationships between acculturative stress, attachment style and coping style of mainland Chinese international students in the United States. The study also investigated how two demographic factors, namely English proficiency and length of stay in the US would impact the coping style. The participants were 119 self-identified mainland Chinese international students enrolled at higher education institutions in the United States. The participants completed: an online survey about their demographic information, the Multidimensional Acculturative Stress Inventory, the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale and the Brief COPE Inventory. The data were analyzed by correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. Results indicated that the English proficiency level was significantly and positively correlated with adaptive coping style, and the length of time in the US was significantly and negatively associated with maladaptive coping styles for mainland Chinese international students. Associations between attachment style and coping style were also discovered. In addition, acculturative stress, avoidance attachment, anxiety attachment, English proficiency level, and length of time in the US explained 14.6% of variance in adaptive coping, and 22.6% of variance in maladaptive coping. English proficiency level significantly contributed to the adaptive coping model. Acculturative stress and length of time in the US made significant contributions to the maladaptive model. Findings of this study suggest that outreach programs and positive social networks would be helpful for mainland Chinese international students to develop adaptive coping. Future research can focus on causal relationships between acculturative stress, attachment style and coping style of mainland Chinese international students, and specific coping strategies they utilize.
Mei Tang, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Laura Nabors, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Cirecie Olatunji, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Natalie Stipanovic, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
112 p.

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Citations

  • Zheng, K. (2016). Acculturative Stress, Attachment Style and Coping Style of Mainland Chinese International Students in the United States [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1470044011

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zheng, Kaifang. Acculturative Stress, Attachment Style and Coping Style of Mainland Chinese International Students in the United States. 2016. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1470044011.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zheng, Kaifang. "Acculturative Stress, Attachment Style and Coping Style of Mainland Chinese International Students in the United States." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1470044011

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)