Cognitive-Behavioral Psychoeducational Program for Cultural Adaptation and Psychological Resilience Among International Students

The Effect of a Psychological Adaptation and Psychological Resilience Psychoeducation Program on Acculturative Stress Among International Students

This study evaluated a psychoeducational program developed to support psychological adaptation and resilience among first-year international university students experiencing elevated acculturative stress. Participants who met the study eligibility criteria were assigned to one of three study conditions: a cognitive-behavioral psychoeducation group, a placebo-control group receiving career guidance activities, or a waiting-list control group. The psychoeducational intervention was delivered over eight weeks. Psychological adaptation, resilience, and acculturative stress-related outcomes were assessed using standardized self-report measures before and after the intervention. The study aimed to examine whether participation in the psychoeducational program was associated with changes in these psychological outcomes compared with the two control conditions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Scoring more than one standard deviation above the overall sample mean on the Acculturative Stress Scale for International Students (ASSIS).
• Being a first-year international student enrolled at the study university.
• Providing written informed consent.
• Being able to attend the eight-week intervention program regularly.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not meeting the predefined ASSIS criterion for elevated acculturative stress.
• Not being a first-year international student.
• Not providing written informed consent.
• Being unable to attend the eight-week intervention program regularly.