Mind the gap: Application-based analysis of cultural adjustment models

Cross-cultural adaptation literature describes multiple theories and models for addressing culture shock. However, the applicability of such theoretical constructs to intercultural trainers and sojourners is at times difficult to assess. The current research explores the communication strategies used by study abroad professionals to prepare sojourners for culture shock through a qualitative comparison to existing models of cross-cultural adaptation as a means of assessing how such theoretical constructs may inform the applied field of cross-cultural training. Specifically, study abroad advisors at a large Southwestern university were interviewed and observed during interactions with pre-departure sojourners traveling to six different locations around the world (Spain, South Korea, Australia, Senegal, and the UK/Ireland). A collaborative review of the transcriptions was then conducted, including in-depth, qualitative, line-by-line coding. Findings indicate that program coordinators use several communication techniques that reflect theoretical constructions of adaptation when discussing cross-cultural transitions with sojourners, including self-disclosure, uncertainty reduction, fear/efficacy appeals, and linguistic/cultural immersion strategies. Further, the results reveal that one model in particular (Gudykunst's Anxiety-Uncertainty Management model) emerges as the most relevant in the study abroad professionals’ narratives. Interestingly, the study further shows that Witte's Extended Parallel Process Model is also consistently used to communicate about culture shock with potential sojourners. The paper concludes with implications for future research given the preliminary nature of the study.