The Experiences of Married International Graduate Students and Their Accompanying Non

243 Pages·2017·9.55 MB·English

by  Adriana Yellig

WWeesstteerrnn MMiicchhiiggaann UUnniivveerrssiittyy
SScchhoollaarrWWoorrkkss aatt WWMMUU
Dissertations Graduate College
1-2011
TThhee EExxppeerriieenncceess ooff MMaarrrriieedd IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall GGrraadduuaattee SSttuuddeennttss aanndd
TThheeiirr AAccccoommppaannyyiinngg NNoonn--SSttuuddeenntt SSppoouusseess iinn tthhee UUSS CCuullttuurree:: AA
QQuuaalliittaattiivvee SSttuuddyy
Adriana Yellig
Western Michigan University
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations
Part of the Higher Education Commons, School Psychology Commons, and the Social Psychology
Commons
RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn
Yellig, Adriana, "The Experiences of Married International Graduate Students and Their Accompanying
Non-Student Spouses in the US Culture: A Qualitative Study" (2011). Dissertations. 485.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/485
This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free
and open access by the Graduate College at
ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion
in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of
ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please
contact [email protected].
THE EXPERIENCES OF MARRIED INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS
AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING NON-STUDENT SPOUSES
IN THE U.S. CULTURE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY
by
Adriana Yellig
A Dissertation
Submitted to the
Faculty of The Graduate College
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology
Advisor: GaryBischof, Ph.D.
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
June 2010
THE EXPERIENCES OF MARRIED INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS
AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING NON-STUDENT SPOUSES
IN THE U.S. CULTURE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY
Adriana Yellig, Ph.D.
Western Michigan University, 2010
Many studies document the experiences of single international students in the
U.S. culture. However, little is known about the experiences of married international
students, their marital relationships, and the experiences of their accompanying non-
student spouses in the U.S. culture.
This qualitative phenomenological study focused on the experiences of married
international graduate students and their accompanying spouses in the U.S. culture.
Additionally, the study explored the impact of cultural influences on the participants'
marital relationships, as well as the impact of marriage on their adjustment to the
culture.
The study included twenty participants (ten couples) from a range of countries,
most from Asia and Africa. Interviews were conducted with each participant
individually followed by a conjoint interview with each couple, for a total of thirty
interviews.
The findings of the study suggest that married international graduate students
and their accompanying spouses' experiences are impacted by cultural factors in the
following areas: (1) interpersonal relationships; (2) Americans' attitudes toward
marriage; (3) academic environment; (4) parenting practices; (5) community
organizational structures; and (6) physical environment. Balancing multiple roles
appears to be the most salient challenge for married international graduate students.
Developing a strong social support network and evaluating the host culture to identify
characteristics that should be thwarted or potentially integrated were some of the coping
mechanisms cited.
Homesickness, loneliness, and role shock were some of the most significant
challenges experienced by the accompanying spouses (including two males) in the
study, particularly for those who had an established professional identity beforehand.
Key coping strategies for accompanying spouses include setting personal goals and
engaging in a process of meaning-making.
Increased closeness in the marital relationship and a tendency to guard against
negative cultural influences were some of the themes that emerged from the
participants' responses. Recommendations based on the findings are offered for
counselor educators, college counselors, and student affairs professionals.
NOTE TO USERS
This reproduction is the best copy available.
UMI*

UMI Number: 3470415
All rights reserved
INFORMATION TO ALL USERS
The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted.
In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript
and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed,
a note will indicate the deletion.
UMT
Dissertation Publishing
UMI 3470415
Copyright 2010 by ProQuest LLC.
All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against
unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code.
ProQuest LLC
789 East Eisenhower Parkway
P.O. Box 1346
Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346
Copyright by
Adriana Yellig
2010
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to acknowledge the people in my life who
have helped me become the person that I am today. In the next few paragraphs I would
like to mention some of the persons who have impacted my professional and personal
development. I would also like to apologize to those who are important people in my life
but whom I failed to include.
First, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my dissertation committee
members, Drs. Gary Bischof, Suzanne Hedstrom, and Karen Blaisure. This research
would not have been possible without your ideas, guidance, and trust in my ability to
produce quality work. My deepest gratitude for my committee chair, Dr. Gary Bischof,
for his guidance, trust in my ability to take on and finish this project, and unending
support throughout the writing of this dissertation. Thank you also for encouraging me to
grow as a professional during my program of study, attend and present at conferences,
and get involved in research. Special thanks to Dr. Suzanne Hedstrom, for cheering me on
and being a great mentor throughout the years. My deep appreciation goes to Dr. Karen
Blaisure, for making herself available during this process and offering her expertise in the
area of cross-cultural transitions and families. I would also like to thank Dr. John Geisler
for helping lay the foundation of this research during Dissertation Seminar.
I dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Elena and Hie Dumitrascu, for their
unconditional love and support throughout the years, for providing me with safety and
ii
Acknowledgments—Continued
protection, and for the many sacrifices they've made so that I can find my way in life. I
also want to acknowledge my high school Psychology teacher, Angela Filipoiu, for
setting a model of hard work, dedication, and humility. I would like to thank my middle
school English teacher, Ioana Ramniceanu, for her example of nobility and character, and
my high school Romanian Literature teacher, Ioana Triculescu, for instilling a love for
reading, writing, and literature critiques. I am grateful for all the educators who believed
in me and encouraged me to be the best I can be. For my amazing aunt, Doina Stanescu,
for being a source of optimism and resilience. For my lifelong friend, Maria Cazacu, for
setting an example of wisdom and thirst for knowledge. Thank you all. This work is also
an expression of the many ways in which you've touched me! Life may have taken me far
away, but you will always have a special place in my heart.
I would also like to acknowledge my husband, Scott Yellig, for his continuous
encouragement and emotional support during the writing of this dissertation. I know I
couldn't have done this without your loving understanding!
For my good friends, Judith Dean and AnnaLee Miller, for being there for me in
good times and hard times. Your kindness, love and support have helped me navigate
cultural transitions and personal difficulties in a much smoother fashion. Special thanks
to Donna Schuldt, for supervising my counseling training and helping me with valuable
advice when needed.
in