Adjustment needs and coping strategies of international students of universities in southern Ghana.

Abstract

The study investigated the coping strategies that international students of the universities in southern Ghana adopted for the adjustment needs they encounter. The study further sought to find out if significant difference existed between the adjustment needs of male and female international students, and how the respondents cope with these adjustment needs together with the different coping strategies adopted by international students of public and private universities. The study also explored the adjustment needs and coping strategies of the young and mature international students. The single, married and those in relationships‟ adjustment needs, significant differences and their coping strategies were sought. The descriptive design of the quantitative research approach was employed in this study. The questionnaire was the research instrument used to elicit responses. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (Independent samples t-test and Kruskal-Wallis H test). The findings were that there was no significant difference in the adjustment needs experienced by male and female international students. It was also revealed that coping strategies were not dependent on gender. It is recommended, among other things, that policy makers and management of the universities must take into account the reality of the adjustment needs that international students encounter and look for effective ways of making their stay in Ghana‟s universities less stressful.