Examining the Relationship Between Chinese International Students’ Acculturation
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Examining the Relationship between Chinese International Students’ Acculturation, Ethnic Identity, Language Proficiency, and Their Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Counseling Services by Jiaqi Li, M.Ed. A Dissertation In COUNSELOR EDUCATION Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Texas Tech University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved Dr. Aretha Marbley, Chair Dr. Loretta Bradley Dr. William Lan Dr. Dominick Casadonte Interim Dean of the Graduate School December 2013 Copyright 2013, Jiaqi Li Texas Tech University, Jiaqi Li, December, 2013 Acknowledgments The doctoral dissertation is a time consuming and arduous task. I express my deep gratitude to Dr. Aretha Marbley, my committee chairperson, for her support, guidance, and encouragement during the dissertation process. I also offer my thanks to Dr. Loretta Bradley for her insight and meticulous edits of this manuscript. I wish to thank Dr. William Lan for lending his statistical expertise to this research. I would like to extend my gratitude to Dr. Charles Crews and Dr. Janet Froeschle for the opportunity to study under you and work with you as a research assistant. Thanks to pastor Robert Sea and friends at Lubbock Chinese Church. This would not have been possible without your prayers and encouragement. Thanks to my mother. I cannot make it without your love and support. ii Texas Tech University, Jiaqi Li, December, 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................ ii ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................1 Background ..................................................................................................................................1 International Students and Mental Health Services .....................................................................3 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................................5 Statement of the Research ............................................................................................................6 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................................7 Research Questions ......................................................................................................................9 Hypothesis..................................................................................................................................10 Limitations, Delimitations, and Assumptions ............................................................................10 Definitions of Key Terms ..........................................................................................................11 CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ...........................................................................14 Conceptual Framework ..............................................................................................................14 Phase 1: The Emergence of Mental Health Problems ...............................................................15 Student Sojourners in the United States.............................................................................16 Cultural Shock ...................................................................................................................18 Homesickness ....................................................................................................................21 Acculturation......................................................................................................................23 Acculturative Stress ...........................................................................................................25 Acculturation Theory .........................................................................................................27 Ethnic Identity ....................................................................................................................30 Language Proficiency ........................................................................................................33 PHASE 2: Help-Seeking Behavior ............................................................................................34 Underutilization of Mental Health Services ......................................................................35 Help-Seeking Theory .........................................................................................................37 Barriers to Help-Seeking Behavior ....................................................................................39 iii Texas Tech University, Jiaqi Li, December, 2013 Misconception ...............................................................................................................39 Loss of face ...................................................................................................................40 Individualism and collectivism .....................................................................................42 Alternative resources .....................................................................................................43 Summary ....................................................................................................................................44 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ...........................................................................................46 Introduction ................................................................................................................................46 Participants .................................................................................................................................47 Instruments .................................................................................................................................48 Demographic Information Survey .....................................................................................48 Measure of English Proficiency .........................................................................................48 Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale ..........................................................51 Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure ..................................................................................54 Attitudes toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help ..............................................55 Procedure ...................................................................................................................................56 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................................56 Summary ....................................................................................................................................59 CHAPTER IV: RESULTS ..........................................................................................................61 Introduction ................................................................................................................................61 Survey Response Rate................................................................................................................62 Sample Demongraphics .............................................................................................................63 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................................64 Data Screening ...................................................................................................................64 Reliability Analysis ............................................................................................................65 Research Question 1 ..........................................................................................................65 Research Question 2 ..........................................................................................................67 Research Question 3 ..........................................................................................................69 Summary ....................................................................................................................................74 CHAPTER V: DISCUSSION .....................................................................................................75 Introduction ................................................................................................................................75 Summary of the Study ...............................................................................................................75 iv Texas Tech University, Jiaqi Li, December, 2013 Ethnic Identity and Help-Seeking Attitudes ......................................................................76 Assimilation and Help-Seeking Attitudes ..........................................................................78