Exploring communication competence and psychological health: A study of cross-cultural adaptation among young Korean immigrants (1.5ers) in the U.S

Abstract

The present study examines the communication experiences of young Korean immigrants and their psychological adjustment in the United States. Y. Y. Kim's (1988, 2001) Cross-cultural Adaptation Theory provides the basis for offering an explanation of the theoretical linkage between host communication competence, host/ethnic interpersonal communication, host/ethnic mass communication and psychological adjustment in the United States. A self-reported structured survey questionnaire was collected from 81 young Korean immigrants. The results show that key research variables are significantly related to the psychological adjustment of young Korean immigrants. The findingsof this study have theoretical implication that communication is at the heart of successful adaptation experiences among young immigrants. The practical implication is also discussed.