Host Communication Competence, Host/Ethnic Interpersonal Communication, and Psychological Health in the Process of Cross-cultural Adaptation: A Study of Indonesian Expatriate Workers in South Korea

Abstract

The present study examined the communication patterns and the adaptation experiences of Indonesian expatriates in South Korea. Based on Y. Y. Kim’s (1988, 2001, 2005, 2012, 2015, 2018) Integrative Communication Theory of Cross-Cultural Adaptation, four hypotheses were developed linking four key factors: host communication competence, host/ethnic interpersonal communication, and psychological health. Numeric data was collected in a questionnaire survey among Indonesian expatriates living in South Korea. As predicted, the results indicate that expatriates with higher levels of host communication competence and more active engagements in interpersonal communication with host nationals experience greater psychological health.

Keywords

Host communication competence / host/ethnic interpersonal communication / psychological health / Indonesian expatriates

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