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

Balan Rathakrishnan, Soon Singh Bikar Singh, Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin, Mohd Fahmi Ghazali, Azizi Yahaya, Noor Hassline Mohamed and Anath Rau Krishnan
Additional contact information
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

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-13

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.

Keywords: international students; social sustainability; socio-cultural adaptation; homesickness; stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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