Authors:
Felisse Marianne Z. San Juan, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
Lucila O. Bance, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
Email: ehfehmsanjuan@yahoo.com
Published: May 12, 2019
https://doi.org/10.22492/ijpbs.5.1.05
Citation: San Juan, F. M. Z., & Bance, L. O. (2019). Development of Intervention Program based on Grit and Psychological Well-Being to Alleviate Acculturative Stress among Foreign Students. IAFOR Journal of Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.22492/ijpbs.5.1.05
Abstract
Studying in higher educational institutions can be particularly stressful, even more so if one is in a foreign country away from familiar people and environment. Stress related to acculturation could develop into psychological illnesses if left unaddressed. This study aimed at proposing a psychological intervention program founded on grit and psychological well-being to alleviate acculturative stress among international students in the Philippines. Nineteen foreign students were selected as participants for the first phase of the study that confirmed that grit and psychological well-being have a strong positive correlation (r=0.83). Results further showed, however, that grit and psychological well-being both have a strong negative correlation with acculturative stress at r=-0.90 and r=-0.80, respectively. Five participants from the original roster were randomly selected to join Phase 2 which involved a qualitative investigation of their experiences. The data were thematically analyzed and these results were utilized in the development of an intervention program for foreign students. Levels of the variables were tested post-intervention to measure its effectiveness.
Keywords
foreign students, acculturative stress, grit, psychological well-being