The influence of emotion recognition and emotion regulation on intercultural adjustment

Previous studies have consistently shown emotion regulation to be an important predictor of intercultural adjustment. Emotional intelligence theory suggests that before people can regulate emotions they need to recognize them; thus emotion recognition ability should also predict intercultural adjustment. The present study tested this hypothesis in international students at three times during the school year. Recognition of anger and emotion regulation predicted positive adjustment; recognition of contempt, fear and sadness predicted negative adjustment. Emotion regulation did not mediate the relationship between emotion recognition and adjustment, and recognition and regulation jointly predicted adjustment. These results suggest recognition of specific emotions may have special functions in intercultural adjustment, and that emotion recognition and emotion regulation play independent roles in adjustment.