Mediating Effect of Intrinsic Motivation between Psychological Adaptation and International Students’ Academic Adaptation in China during COVID-19

Abstract

International students living in foreign countries have been categorized as a "high-risk group" in psychological aspects after the outbreak of COVID-19. The abrupt switch to remote learning has negatively impacted their ability to adjust academically. This research aims to investigate the relationship between international students' psychological adaptation and their academic adjustment, as well as explore the potential mediating effect of intrinsic motivation. There are 259 international students learning in Beijing, Wuhan, and Haikou filling in the questionnaire, most of them are 21-30 years old and have varying degrees of understanding of Chinese culture. The data collected was analyzed using AMOS and SPSS. The findings reveal that psychological adaptation directly influences international students' academic adaptation, and that intrinsic motivation plays a significant role as a mediator between the two. These results have important implications for universities seeking to enhance international students' academic adaptation by prioritizing their psychological well-being and intrinsic motivation.