Influence of Personality, L2 Proficiency and Attitudes on Japanese Adolescents' Intercultural Adjustment

This research examines whether individual variables, including L2 proficiency
and extroversion, affect the intercultural adjustment process of adolescent
Japanese sojourners. A questionnaire was administered to 139 high school
students studying in the United States for one year and to their host families.
Multiple regression analyses were conducted with self-rated and host-rated
measures of adjustment as dependent variables. Independent or predictor
variables were standardized English test scores, extroversion scores as measured
by a personality type indicator, and several variables taken from a pre-departure
questionnaire. The results showed that extroversion was a predictor of almost
all self-rated measures of adjustment, including satisfaction with friendship
with Americans, relationships with the host family and school work. English
profiCiency was a predictor of host-rated adjustment. A stronger international
interest and a less Japanese-centered outlook led to better academic adjustment
and the participants' overseas experience was shown to positively affect hostrated
adjustment measures.