Intercultural Communication Competence that Affects with Adaptation of Thai Undergraduate Students in Beijing, People's Republic of China: A Multiple Regression Analysis
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Abstract
This study aimed to (1) analyze the intercultural communication competence (ICC) of Thai students in Beijing, People's Republic of China; (2) analyze their adaptation in language, cultural, and social domains; and (3) develop a predictive model of their adaptation. The participants were 149 Thai undergraduate students enrolled in higher education institutions in Beijing, selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results revealed that students demonstrated a high level of intercultural communication competence (M = 3.85, SD = 0.67) and a similarly high level of overall adaptation (M = 3.93, SD = 0.81). Cultural adaptation showed the highest mean score (M = 4.35, SD = 0.66), followed by social adaptation (M = 4.10, SD = 0.90) and linguistic adaptation (M = 3.97, SD = 0.81). Furthermore, three key dimensions of intercultural communication competence are intercultural sensitivity, intercultural fluency, and intercultural awareness—collectively predicted student adaptation with statistical significance at the .05 level, with a coefficient of determination (R²) of .612, meaning these three variables explained 61.2% of the variance in adaptation. These findings emphasize the value of developing intercultural communication competence to enhance the adaptation of Thai students studying abroad. This underscores the importance of targeted training programs that focus on these dimensions, enabling students to navigate diverse cultural landscapes more effectively. By fostering these skills, educational institutions can better prepare students for successful international experiences. The resulting model can serve as a guideline for developing curricula or organizing activities that promote essential skills to help new students adapt more effectively to diverse cultural environments.
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