An Analysis of Socio-Cultural Adaptation`s Predictors

Socio-Cultural Adaptation (individual’s ability to acquire culturally appropriate skills and adapt effectively to an environment, Wilson, 2013) has been linked to acceptance from peers and host group (Ward & Kennedy, 1999), satisfaction-affect (Berry et al., 2006), identity-esteem (Leong & Ward, 2000), and cultural adherence (Kosic, 2004). The purpose of this study was to build a predictive model for Socio-Cultural Competence that considered a combination of cultural and behavioral variables. A non-probabilistic sample of 224 Mexicans (78 men, 146 women, ages 18-57, M=26.8, SD=7.5) was used. The following instruments were administered: 1) The Revised Sociocultural Adaptation Scale (Interpersonal Communication, Academic/Work Performance, Personal Interests & Community Involvement; Ecological Adaptation, Language Proficiency; Wilson, 2013), 2) The Individualism-Collectivism Scale (Independent vs Interdependent Self, Rationality vs Relatedness, Independent vs Interdependent Goals, Attitudes vs Norms; Fischer et al., 2009), 3) The Tightness-Looseness Scale (Gelfand et al., 2011), 4) The Affect Balance Scale (Positive Affect, Negative Affect; Velasco, 2017), 5) The Antisocial/Criminal Behavior Scale (Pre-criminal Behavior, Criminal Behavior, Conducts Against Private Property, Violent Behavior, and Alcohol and Drug Consumption; Andreu & Peña, 2013), and 6) The Self-esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). A stepwise regression analysis showed Positive Affect, Tightness, Respect for Private Property, Positive Self-esteem, absence of Pre-criminal Behavior, and Rationality account for 34.8% of Socio-Cultural Adjustment. An analysis of how adherence to cultural norms, Mexico’s collectivist nature, behavioral efforts to fit in, and affective evaluations of life events can predict cultural adjustment is presented and discussed. Project FESZ/PSIC/511/17 & 2017-12/48- 2507 at FES-Z, UNAM. Contact: velasco.matus@gmail.com