The Effects of Social Anxiety, Taijin Kyofusho, Resilience, and Social Support on Acculturative Stress in Asian International Students

The stress response to the stressors associated with acculturation is called acculturative stress, which is associated with negative outcomes such as symptoms of depression and anxiety. This thesis examined the extent to which acculturative stress is related to social anxiety, Taijin Kyofusho, resilience, social support, and types of social support in Asian international students studying in Canada. In this online cross-sectional study, a sample (n=75) of Asian international students, currently enrolled in postsecondary programs in Canada, completed self-report measures of acculturative stress, social anxiety, Taijin Kyofusho, resilience, social support, and sources of social support. The results indicated that social anxiety, Taijin Kyofusho, and resilience are related to acculturative stress, but that social anxiety is more strongly related to acculturative stress compared to Taijin Kyofusho. Social support did not predict acculturative stress, but living with family members was positively related to acculturative stress. Limitations, implications, and future directions are discussed.