Psychological Adaptation of Chinese Sojourners in Canada

Abstract

Psychological adaptation during acculturation was studied among 68 Chinese sojourners (students and visiting scholars from China and Hong Kong), 28 Chinese immigrant and Chinese‐Canadian students, 30 Chinese students and scholars in China, and 33 non‐Chinese Canadian students. Each participant completed questionnaires pertaining to various aspects of their lives and personalities, including: health beliefs and behaviours; problems and ways of coping; social contact and acculturation attitudes; psychological and physical health; and subjective adaptation. The Chinese sojourners reported lower English fluency, lower ease of making friendships, more adaptation and communication problems, and lower subjective adaptation than non‐Chinese Canadian, or Chinese‐Canadian students. The Chinese sojourners experienced less desired and actual contact, more contact incongruity, more separation and less assimilation than Chinese‐Canadian students. The Chinese sojourners reacted to their problems with less wishful thinking and self‐blame, and more tension reduction, and the seeking of informational support than non‐Chinese Canadian students. There were significant differences between groups in health concept and health causation, and believed and utilized health ways. Health causation, and believed and utilised health ways were the most important factors influencing the Chinese sojourners' health status. The Chinese sojourners experienced more problems, but tended to use fewer health ways after‐arrival than pre‐departure. The Chinese also experienced poorer health, especially poorer psychological health after‐arrival than pre‐departure. The longitudinal and cross‐sectional analysis of the Chinese sojourners' Cawte scores supported the U‐curve hypothesis.