Primary Sources of Acculturative Stress among Students Pursuing Higher Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to find out the primary sources and the level of acculturative stress among non-resident students enrolled in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Mizoram. It also aims to study if there is a significant difference between males and females on acculturative stress among non-resident students. The sample of the study consists of 51 non-resident students of Mizoram University. A self-developed Acculturative Stress Scale for non-resident students in HEIs in Mizoram was used as the research tool. The tool consists of 34 items with six dimensions: homesickness, food preferences, social behaviour and language, cultural values, prejudice and racial discrimination, and isolation. This study used statistical techniques such as mean, standard deviations, and t-test. Findings showed that most students (n=41) fall on the “mild” level of acculturative stress. The remaining students (n=10) fall on the “high” level of acculturative stress. The primary source of acculturative stress is found to be a language barrier. There is no significant difference found concerning gender on the level of acculturative stress.