Development of the Acculturative Stressors Scale for International University Students in Thailand
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Abstract
There has been rapid internationalization of higher education in Thailand due to globalization and AEC market place. As a result, acculturation challenges can be concerns among international students in Thailand. However, such studies are quite limited. Hence, this study aims to develop and preliminary validation of the Acculturative Stressors Scale for foreign university students who study in Thailand. Based on the Acculturative Hassles Scale for Chinese Students, this scale measures four components of acculturative stressors: Language Deficiency, Academic Work, Cultural Difference, and Social Interaction. Participants were 107 foreign university students. Their mean aged was 21.42+2.32 years old. Instruments were the Acculturative Stressors Scale and the Wellness Scale. Findings revealed that the 21-item, 4-component, Acculturative Stressors Scale demonstrated good reliability with Cronbach's alpha as of .87 (.61, .67, .73, and .80 for the subscale respectively). Further, scale divergent validity was examined. The scale demonstrated its acceptable criterion validity: its negative and linear correlation with Wellness Scale (r -.20, p < .05). The scale construct validity was confirmed by the first order of confirmatory factor analysis, which revealed that the model fit with the empirical data (Chi-square=2.653; df=1; p= .103; CFI= .987; TLI= .921; RMSEA= .124). The study suggests that the Acculturative Stressors Scale is suitable for assessing the acculturative stressors of foreign university students.
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