Experience of living and studying in Ireland

Abstract

The present study examined whether maladaptive perfectionism (i.e., discrepancy between expectations and performance), length of time in Ireland, coping style and acculturative stress could strength or buffer depression. Previous research (i.e. Meifen, Wei.; Kelly, Yu-Hsin Liao.; et al. 2007) has indicated that these variables are important to study. Data were collected through Questionnaires from 131 international students who are attending various universities in Dublin. Results showed that there were statistically significant main effects of acculturative stress on depression. Also, the results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in relation to coping style between 'Asian' and 'European & rest of the world' respondents. Meanwhile, the results indicate that international students from Europe & rest of the world' experienced less acculturative stress than their counterparts from Asian countries. Moreover, maladaptive perfectionism, coping style were all predictors of acculturative stress.