Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on Research in Humanities and Social Sciences
Year: 2025
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Does Sports Participation Moderate the Impact of Perceived Social Support on Cross-Cultural Adaptation？
Yuqing Wang
ABSTRACT:
With globalization, more students study abroad to gain knowledge and job opportunities. This study looks at how perceived social support (PSS) and sports participation (SP) affect cross-cultural adaptation (CCA) among international students in Japan. Perceived social support (PSS) helps students handle stress and mental health challenges, but its effect can vary by culture. Sports participation (SP) can improve mental health, but its role in cross-cultural adaptation is unclear. Some studies show that sports help students cope with stress, while others suggest it may not work for everyone. However, cultural distance (CD) could affect how PSS and SP influence adaptation. Understanding these relationships is crucial to support international students effectively. A cross-sectional survey will be conducted with about 300 international students in Japan. Key measures include perceived social support (using the MSPSS), cross-cultural adaptation (using the SCAS), sports participation (custom questionnaire), and cultural distance (based on Hofstede’s theory). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) will be used to analyze the data. The study will control age, gender, length of stay, and prior international experience. We hypothesize that: (1) PSS positively influences cross-cultural adaptation, (2) SP positively influences adaptation, (3) SP mediates the relationship between PSS and adaptation, and (4) CD moderates both the direct and mediated relationships. We expect that PSS and SP will have stronger effects in culturally similar contexts and weaker effects where CD is greater. Preliminary analyses suggest complex interactions among these factors, with SP playing both direct and indirect roles in enhancing adaptation.
Keywords: Cross-cultural adaptation, Perceived social support, Sports participation, International student