Survival of the Fittest: Understanding the Role of Individual Adaptability during Cultural Transitions

Abstract

Using longitudinal data from an international student sample, I hypothesized and tested a process model, in which cultural identification mediated the relationship between individual adaptability and cross-cultural adjustment. The results from both self-reported and peer-reported data supported the hypothesized model. After controlling for other personality concepts (e.g., proactive personality and openness to experience), I found that individual adaptability significantly related to cultural identification, and afterwards positively associated with cross-cultural adjustment. Further, cultural identification mediated the relationship between individual adaptability and cross-cultural adjustment. This dissertation contributes to the cross-cultural adjustment literature by exploring the mediating mechanism of cultural identification during cross-cultural adjustment. Additionally, it is among the first to apply the concept of individual adaptability to the cross-cultural adjustment literature.