Examining the Relationship between Cultural Intelligence and the Academic Performance of International Students: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

Abstract

Driven by globalization, cultural intelligence (CQ) has become a critical element for human communication. The increasing international student population also calls for an in-depth understanding of CQ, which incorporates metacognitive, cognitive, motivational, and behavioral dimensions that could promote international learning and working performance. This study evaluates the relationship between Cultural Intelligence and international students' academic achievement. Our sample included 452 American students who studied abroad were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Findings provide partial support for the relationship between CQS factors and participants' self-reported grade point average (GPA). Specifically, students' motivational (β = .188, p < .01) and behavioral (β = .126, p < .05) CQ scores were found to be significantly correlated with GPA. Such results demonstrate the need for CQ training for students who will study abroad. Further research is needed regarding using CQ to promote students' GPAs and how CQ could change over time.