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Homesickness and Socio-Cultural Adaptation towards Perceived Stress among International Students of a Public University in Sabah: An Exploration Study for Social Sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Balan Rathakrishnan

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia)

  • Soon Singh Bikar Singh

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia)

  • Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin

    (Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia)

  • Mohd Fahmi Ghazali

    (Centre of Global Business and Digital Economy, Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia)

  • Azizi Yahaya

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia)

  • Noor Hassline Mohamed

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia)

  • Anath Rau Krishnan

    (Labuan Faculty of International Finance, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Labuan International Campus, Jalan Sungai Pagar, Federal Territory of Labuan 87000, Malaysia)

Abstract

When adolescents go overseas to study, they have to face the challenge of adapting to local cultures, homesickness, and dealing with the stress. This study aimed to investigate the socio-cultural adaptation, homesickness, and perceived stress among international students in relation to social sustainability in a public university in Sabah, Malaysia. This research also related how international students manage both positive and negative impacts on their social life in university. The study included all international students in that university except Bruneian and Indonesian students. The sample group comprised 100 male and 100 female students. This study used four questionnaires: (i) Perceived Stress Scale, (ii) Homesickness Scale, (iii) Socio-cultural Adaptation Scale, and (iv) Revised Sociocultural Adaptation Scale. The results indicated that the socio-cultural adaptation and perceived stress levels were significantly correlated, r (198) = 0.354, p < 0.05. The level of homesickness and perceived stress were also significantly correlated, r (198) = 0.314, p < 0.05. The outcome of this study can help overseas students lead better lives abroad, while the university can arrange relevant activities to help them better adapt to local cultures and perceive less stress. The present study underlined the importance of increasing socio-cultural adaptation and social sustainability and decreasing homesickness among international students studying at the public university in Sabah.

Suggested Citation

  • Balan Rathakrishnan & Soon Singh Bikar Singh & Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin & Mohd Fahmi Ghazali & Azizi Yahaya & Noor Hassline Mohamed & Anath Rau Krishnan, 2021. "Homesickness and Socio-Cultural Adaptation towards Perceived Stress among International Students of a Public University in Sabah: An Exploration Study for Social Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:4924-:d:544914
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ali Selman Özdemir & Bekir Erhan Orhan & Aydın Karaçam & Ahmed Malka & Dragos Horia Buhociu & Teodora Mihaela Iconomescu, 2023. "Tourist Nomads, Leisure Constraints, and Social Cohesion: A Study on International Students Living in Istanbul," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-11, May.
    2. Balan Rathakrishnan & Soon Singh Bikar Singh & Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin & Azizi Yahaya & Mohd Azrin Mohd Nasir & Fauziah Ibrahim & Zaizul Ab Rahman, 2021. "Smartphone Addiction and Sleep Quality on Academic Performance of University Students: An Exploratory Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-12, August.
    3. Balan Rathakrishnan & Soon Singh Bikar Singh & Azizi Yahaya, 2022. "Perceived Social Support, Coping Strategies and Psychological Distress among University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploration Study for Social Sustainability in Sabah, Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Soon Singh Bikar & Balan Rathakrishnan & Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin & Norruzeyati Che Mohd Nasir & Mohd Azrin Mohd Nasir, 2021. "Social Sustainability of Post-Disaster: How Teachers Enable Primary School Students to Be Resilient in Times of Ranau Earthquake," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-11, June.

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