which is a 7-item Likert scale. The items of the
questionnaire were derived directly from the six
aspects of culture shock as delineated by Taft
(1977) which are as follows: (a) Strain due to effort
required to make necessary psychological adaptation;
(b) A sense of loss and feelings of deprivation
in regard to friends, status, profession, and
possession; (c) Being rejected by and/or rejecting
the members of the new culture; (d) Confusion in
role, role expectations, values, feelings, and selfidentity;
(e) Surprise, anxiety, disgust, and indignation
after becoming aware of cultural differences;
and (f) Feelings of impotence due to not being able
to cope with the new environment. Each item is
worded in question form (e.g., “Do you feel generally
accepted by the local people?”) and rated
using a 3-point response format that ranges from
“0 = not at all” to “2=most of the time”. Total
scores range from 0 to 14. High total scores suggest
high levels of culture shock. Specifically,
scores from 0 to 4 suggest low levels, scores from
5 to 9 suggest moderate levels, and scores from
10 to 14 suggest high levels of culture shock. The
instrument is a valid measure of acculturative stress
as it accurately differentiated the degrees of culture
shock across persons experiencing acculturation
as shown by significant correlation between
Culture Distance Index which was .50 with core
culture shock items and .58 with interpersonal
stress items. The Cronbach’s alpha for the sample
used in this study is .71.
Coping responses were measured using the
Coping Resources Inventory - Adult Form (Moos,
1993) which is a 48-item Likert measure of eight
different types of coping responses to stressful life
circumstances based on focus (approach versus
avoidance) and method (cognitive and behavioral).
Approach Coping is defined by: (a) Logical Analysis
which involves gaining insight on a stressor;
(b) Positive Reappraisal which requires positively
reframing perception of a stressor; (c) Seeking
Guidance which entails obtaining support from significant
others and advice from professionals, and
(d) Problem Solving which pertains to goal-setting
and implementing plans to solve the problem.
The second set of four scales measures Cognitive
Avoidance Coping which include responses such
as Cognitive Avoidance which refers to avoiding
thinking about the stressor and Acceptance or Resignation
which involves accepting that one has no
control over the stressor. The Behavioral Avoidance