Cultural Intelligence, Age and Prior Travel Experience as Predictors of Acculturative Stress and Depression among International Students Studying in China

Mental health problems commonly prevail among international students as a result of acculturative difficulties. In light of this, the study attempted to determine the role of cultural intelligence, age and prior travel experience on acculturative stress and depression and also whether acculturative stress mediated the cultural intelligence-depression relationship. 506 international university students studying in China completed a battery of tests assessing their cultural intelligence, acculturative stress and depression. Cultural intelligence showed significantly negative correlations with both acculturative stress and depression. Students' prior travel experiences and age also significantly correlated with both acculturative stress and depression. Acculturative stress mediated the relationship between cultural intelligence and depression. Implication, limitations and future study directions were discussed as well.