Relationships Among Expectations of Reentry Problems of International Students Living in On-campus Apartments and Off-campus Housing at Andrews University and Selected Student Characteristics

Problem: Andrews University has maintained a large international student population throughout the years, but no previous study exists that examines expectations of reentry problems among international students. Consequently, neither has there been data collected on important demographic variables influencing the sojourn experience of this group, nor does there exist information about relationships among demographic variables and specific reentry areas that shape the students' expectations about the return home.

Method: The Expectations of Problems Upon Return to the Home Country Among International Students at Andrews University survey instrument was developed. Descriptive statistics were used to discover demographic characteristics and frequency of responses. t-tests were done to identify the presence of significant differences between selected dichotomous student characteristics and seven areas of reentry concern. One-way ANOVAs were done to explore main effects among non-dichotomous variables and two-way ANOVAs were done to explore possible interactions.

Results: Unmarried students had significantly higher expectations of problems in the return experience in regard to three reentry areas: national and political conditions (p =.001), educational aspects (p =.049) and professional aspects (p =.006).

Students who socialized little, or not at all, with other students from the same country had significantly lower expectations of problems in regard to professional aspects in the return experience than those who socialized more (p =.0248).

Seven significant main effects and ten significant interactive effects were obtained for variables unrelated to hypotheses in the study.

Conclusions: Marital status, age, level of degree program, location of Andrews University, use of English language and socialization with students from the home country represent significant student characteristics that shape expectations of reentry problems in regard to cultural adjustment, national and political conditions, professional aspects and church work adjustment. Professional integration is an issue of primary concern.

Availability:
Free
Publication Date:
1998
Author:
Jose R Bourget-Tactuk
Publisher:
Andrews University Press
Sutherland House
8360 W Campus Circle Dr
Berrien Springs, MI  49103

Phone: 616 471 6134 or 800 467 6369
FAX: 616 471 6224
Email: aupo@andrews.edu
URL: https://www.andrews.edu/universitypress
Order Information:
Full text available online through ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Completed through Andrews University.
Language:
English
Resource Type:
Unpublished Plans & Papers; Internet Resources
Resource Objective:
Research
Level:
Tertiary
Audience:
Researcher
Religious Origin:
Seventh-day Adventist