Kasabova, Teya (2025) The Influence of Queerness on the Relationship between Perceived Cultural Distance and Adjustment in International Students. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
With a growing number of international students in Dutch higher education institutions, it is crucial to determine which students might have a harder time than others when adjusting to their new environment. Research has shown that perceived cultural distance (PCD) is a reliable predictor of international students’ adjustment. If a student perceives great differences between their home culture and their host culture, they are more likely to show poor adjustment. In addition, a different line of research has indicated that queer international students might experience difficulties in adjustment both due to their cultural and queer identities. Accordingly, it is reasonable to assume that these additional difficulties might influence the relationship between PCD and adjustment. Thus, three hypotheses were formulated and tested using cross-sectional survey data from both queer and non-queer international students in the Netherlands: 1) There will be a negative relationship between PCD and adjustment; 2) Queer students will show poorer adjustment than non-queer students; 3) The negative relationship between PCD and adjustment found in non-queer students will be weaker or no longer reliable for queer students. The results of the study support only the first hypothesis. Possibly, the fact that the Netherlands is regarded as an especially queer-friendly country might have an influence on queer international students’ adjustment. Accordingly, future research on queer international students’ adjustment in other, less queer-friendly countries seems worthwhile.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Supervisor name: | Otten, S. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Applied Social Psychology (ASP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Jul 2025 09:02 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Jul 2025 09:02 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5761 |
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