Adjustment Challenges and Help Seeking Among Turkish International Students in the United States/ Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'ndeki Türk Uluslararası Öğrencilerin Uyum Zorlukları ve Yardım Arama Davranışları

Year 2021, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 213 - 230, 31.12.2021

Seda Erturk , Lan Anh Nguyen Luu

https://doi.org/10.47105/nsb.951339

Abstract

The present qualitative inquiry examined adjustment challenges and help seeking among 15 Turkish international students (TIS) studying at various universities in the United States during their cross-cultural adjustment process. Data were gathered by means of semi-structured in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The results suggested that TIS experienced several adjustment challenges that affected their general well-being and satisfaction and made their adjustment process harder. According to the results, TIS initially sought help to overcome their adjustment challenges from family members, advisors, or friends. Dissatisfaction among TIS due to a lack of cultural sensitivity on the part of mental health providers negatively affected the students’ help seeking from professional services. The findings of the present study may help mental health providers to address the needs of TIS effectively as a specific cultural group in multicultural settings in the United States.

Keywords

cross-cultural adjustment, help seeking, adjustment challenges, studying abroad, Turkish international students, qualitative study.

Supporting Institution

Lan Anh Nguyen Luu was supported by a grant from the Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Office – NKFIH, Budapest, Hungary (K-120433).

Adjustment Challenges and Help Seeking Among Turkish International Students in the United States/ Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'ndeki Türk Uluslararası Öğrencilerin Uyum Zorlukları ve Yardım Arama Davranışları

Abstract

Bu nitel araştırma, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'ndeki farklı üniversitelerden 15 Türk uluslararası öğrencinin uyum sürecinde yaşadıkları zorlukları ve yardım arayışını incelemiştir. Veriler yarı yapılandırılmış derinlemesine görüşmeler yoluyla toplanmış ve tematik analiz kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Sonuçlar, Türk uluslararası öğrencilerin genel iyi oluşlarını ve memnuniyetlerini etkileyen ve uyum sürecini zorlaştıran çeşitli uyum zorlukları yaşadıklarını gösterdi. Sonuçlara göre, Türk uluslararası öğrenciler uyum zorluklarının üstesinden gelmek için önce aile üyelerinden, danışmanlardan veya arkadaşlardan yardım istedi. Ruh sağlığı sağlayıcılarının kültürel duyarlılık eksikliğinden kaynaklanan Türk uluslararası öğrencilerin memnuniyetsizliği, onların profesyonel yardım aramalarını olumsuz etkilemiştir. Bu çalışmanın bulguları, ruh sağlığı sağlayıcılarının, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'nin çok kültürlü ortamlarında belirli bir kültürel grup olarak Türk uluslararası öğrencilerin ihtiyaçlarını etkili bir şekilde ele almasına yardımcı olabilir.

Keywords

kültürlerarası uyum, yardım arama, uyum zorlukları, yurtdışında eğitim, Türk uluslararası öğrenciler, nitel çalışma.

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