According to 2020 data from UNESCO, Türkiye ranks 26th globally among countries sending students abroad, with Italy being the fourth most preferred destination in Europe, attracting 4.2% of Turkish students. This qualitative study delves into the acculturation experiences of Turkish international students pursuing higher education in Padova, Italy. The research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges these students face while adjusting to a new cultural environment, the strategies they develop to navigate acculturation stress, and the support systems that facilitate their academic and social integration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants, allowing for an in-depth exploration of their lived experiences. The results of the study were gathered around five main themes by using thematic analysis. The first theme, motivation, shows that the participants preferred Italy for reasons such as high-quality education, scholarship opportunities English-taught programs, and specific courses offered. Secondly, the students encountered cultural stress factors such as accommodation, language barriers, bureaucracy, uncertainty, discrimination and homesickness. The third theme, adaptation strategies, revealed that the participants tried to adapt to a new culture by adapting their daily habits such as clothing, eating, education and lifestyle. Then, under the theme of identity, it was investigated how students feel they are perceived in the host society and their sense of belonging. Finally, the last theme support networks, the social support networks that the participants needed and used during their adaptation process in Italy, their experiences of social isolation, and the institutional support they received from the university were examined.

According to 2020 data from UNESCO, Türkiye ranks 26th globally among countries sending students abroad, with Italy being the fourth most preferred destination in Europe, attracting 4.2% of Turkish students. This qualitative study delves into the acculturation experiences of Turkish international students pursuing higher education in Padova, Italy. The research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges these students face while adjusting to a new cultural environment, the strategies they develop to navigate acculturation stress, and the support systems that facilitate their academic and social integration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants, allowing for an in-depth exploration of their lived experiences. The results of the study were gathered around five main themes by using thematic analysis. The first theme, motivation, shows that the participants preferred Italy for reasons such as high-quality education, scholarship opportunities English-taught programs, and specific courses offered. Secondly, the students encountered cultural stress factors such as accommodation, language barriers, bureaucracy, uncertainty, discrimination and homesickness. The third theme, adaptation strategies, revealed that the participants tried to adapt to a new culture by adapting their daily habits such as clothing, eating, education and lifestyle. Then, under the theme of identity, it was investigated how students feel they are perceived in the host society and their sense of belonging. Finally, the last theme support networks, the social support networks that the participants needed and used during their adaptation process in Italy, their experiences of social isolation, and the institutional support they received from the university were examined.

Navigating Acculturative Stress: The Case of Turkish International Students in Padova, Italy

ERDOGAN, NIHAN
2023/2024

Abstract

According to 2020 data from UNESCO, Türkiye ranks 26th globally among countries sending students abroad, with Italy being the fourth most preferred destination in Europe, attracting 4.2% of Turkish students. This qualitative study delves into the acculturation experiences of Turkish international students pursuing higher education in Padova, Italy. The research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges these students face while adjusting to a new cultural environment, the strategies they develop to navigate acculturation stress, and the support systems that facilitate their academic and social integration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants, allowing for an in-depth exploration of their lived experiences. The results of the study were gathered around five main themes by using thematic analysis. The first theme, motivation, shows that the participants preferred Italy for reasons such as high-quality education, scholarship opportunities English-taught programs, and specific courses offered. Secondly, the students encountered cultural stress factors such as accommodation, language barriers, bureaucracy, uncertainty, discrimination and homesickness. The third theme, adaptation strategies, revealed that the participants tried to adapt to a new culture by adapting their daily habits such as clothing, eating, education and lifestyle. Then, under the theme of identity, it was investigated how students feel they are perceived in the host society and their sense of belonging. Finally, the last theme support networks, the social support networks that the participants needed and used during their adaptation process in Italy, their experiences of social isolation, and the institutional support they received from the university were examined.
2023
Navigating Acculturative Stress: The Case of Turkish International Students in Padova, Italy
According to 2020 data from UNESCO, Türkiye ranks 26th globally among countries sending students abroad, with Italy being the fourth most preferred destination in Europe, attracting 4.2% of Turkish students. This qualitative study delves into the acculturation experiences of Turkish international students pursuing higher education in Padova, Italy. The research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges these students face while adjusting to a new cultural environment, the strategies they develop to navigate acculturation stress, and the support systems that facilitate their academic and social integration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants, allowing for an in-depth exploration of their lived experiences. The results of the study were gathered around five main themes by using thematic analysis. The first theme, motivation, shows that the participants preferred Italy for reasons such as high-quality education, scholarship opportunities English-taught programs, and specific courses offered. Secondly, the students encountered cultural stress factors such as accommodation, language barriers, bureaucracy, uncertainty, discrimination and homesickness. The third theme, adaptation strategies, revealed that the participants tried to adapt to a new culture by adapting their daily habits such as clothing, eating, education and lifestyle. Then, under the theme of identity, it was investigated how students feel they are perceived in the host society and their sense of belonging. Finally, the last theme support networks, the social support networks that the participants needed and used during their adaptation process in Italy, their experiences of social isolation, and the institutional support they received from the university were examined.
acculturation
acculturative stress
social support
adaptation
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/78592