An investigation of relationship correlates and predictors of cultural adjustment among missionaries.

153 Pages·2017·1.88 MB·English

by  Sarah Warren

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Electronic Theses and Dissertations
12-2017
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Sarah Warren
University of Louisville
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Warren, Sarah, "An investigation of relationship correlates and predictors of cultural adjustment among
missionaries." (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2844.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/2844
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AN INVESTIGATION OF RELATIONSHIP CORRELATES AND PREDICTORS OF
CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT AMONG MISSIONARIES

By

Sarah Warren
B. A., Olivet Nazarene University, 2006
M.A., Indiana Wesleyan University, 2008

A Dissertation
Submitted to the Faculty of the
College of Education and Human Development
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy
in Counseling and Personnel Services

Department of Counseling and Human Development
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

December 2017

AN INVESTIGATION OF RELATIONSHIP CORRELATES AND PREDICTORS OF
CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT AMONG MISSIONARIES

By

Sarah Warren
B. A., Olivet Nazarene University, 2006
M.A., Indiana Wesleyan University, 2008

A Dissertation Approved on

November 28, 2017

by the following Dissertation Committee:

__________________________________________________
Dr. Lisa M. Hooper, Dissertation Chair

__________________________________________________
Dr. Detra Johnson, Committee Member

__________________________________________________
Dr. Ahmad Washington, Committee Member

__________________________________________________
Dr. Hongryun Woo, Committee Member

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am immensely grateful for the many individuals who have helped me through
this long dissertation journey. First, thank you to my dissertation chair, Dr. Lisa M.
Hooper. I am grateful for your guidance, wisdom, and patience, the priority you place on
your students, and your willingness to work with me across continents. I am also grateful
to my committee members, Dr. Detra Johnson, Dr. Ahmad Washington, and Dr.
Hongryun Woo, for your support, expertise, and flexibility as I completed this
dissertation process.
Thank you to Extreme Nazarene Missions and the Global Mission Department of
the Church of the Nazarene for your kindness and willingness to assist me throughout the
course of this project. Without your support, I would not have been able to complete this
research study. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to be part of these organizations
and the missions work that is being done around the world.
To my amazing family who has unconditionally loved, supported, and encouraged
me through every step of this long journey – thank you for always believing in me and
for teaching me to believe in myself.
And finally, to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, without whom none of this
would be possible. To Him be the glory, forever and ever!

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ABSTRACT

AN INVESTIGATION OF RELATIONSHIP CORRELATES AND PREDICTORS OF
CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT AMONG MISSIONARIES

Sarah Warren

November 28, 2017
While research on the cultural adjustment of expatriates has existed for decades,
information related to the cultural adjustment of missionaries is considerably lacking
(Kimber, 2012). Information on missionary cultural adjustment often has been
extrapolated from the greater expatriate population, in spite of differences existing
between missionaries and other expatriates (Navara & James, 2002; 2005). This study
examined the extent to which missionary relationships (with God, individuals from one’s
host culture, individuals from one’s home culture, and other missionaries) correlate with
and predict cultural adjustment among missionaries.
Participants were recruited from the Church of the Nazarene’s Global Mission
Department to complete an online survey consisting of the Sociocultural Adaptation
Scale (SCAS; Ward & Kennedy, 1999), the Spiritual Assessment Inventory (SAI; Hall &
Edwards, 1996; 2002), and the 2-Way Social Support Scale (SSS; Shakespeare-Finch &
Obst, 2011). The final sample included 101 English-speaking missionaries who have
been serving for at least three months.
While results of the bivariate analyses did not find a correlation between cultural
adjustment and overall level of relationship with God, there was a significant correlation
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found between cultural adjustment and the Instability subscale of the SAI, indicating that
stability in one’s relationship with God is positively correlated with cultural adjustment.
Results also indicated a significant correlation between cultural adjustment and
missionaries’ relationships with individuals from their host culture. Additional bivariate
analyses did not indicate a significant correlation between cultural adjustment and
missionaries’ relationships with individuals from their home culture or cultural
adjustment and relationships with other missionaries.
Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated a significant positive
relationship between cultural adjustment and the independent variables of relationship
with God, individuals from one’s host culture, individuals from one’s home culture, and
other missionaries. Further analysis indicated that missionary relationships with host
nationals made a significant contribution to the multiple regression model, but no other
variables had a significant impact on cultural adjustment.
This study adds to the limited research on missionary cultural adjustment,
providing information on the cultural adjustment process that can be used to increase the
likelihood of missionary success in transitioning to a new cultural environment.
.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iii
ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iv
LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. xi
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................1
Conceptual Framework ........................................................................................................5
Cultural Adjustment .......................................................................................................5
Relationship with God ...................................................................................................6
Relationships with Others ..............................................................................................8
Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................................9
Problem Statement .............................................................................................................10
Research Questions and Hypotheses .................................................................................12
Need for the Study .............................................................................................................15
Significance of the Study ...................................................................................................16
Delimitations ......................................................................................................................18
Limitations .........................................................................................................................18
Definitions of the Current Study ........................................................................................19
Outline of the Dissertation Study .......................................................................................21
CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW ..........................................................................22
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Cultural Adjustment ...........................................................................................................22
Expatriate Failure .........................................................................................................29
Missionary Cultural Adjustment ........................................................................................31
Relationship with God .......................................................................................................36
Relationships with Others ..................................................................................................37
Relationships from Home Culture ...............................................................................40
Relationships with Expatriates .....................................................................................41
Relationships with Host Nationals ...............................................................................42
Attachment Theory ............................................................................................................43
Summary ............................................................................................................................46
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................48
Research Design .................................................................................................................48
Research Questions and Hypotheses .................................................................................49
Participants .........................................................................................................................51
Procedures ..........................................................................................................................52
Measures ............................................................................................................................53
Variables ......................................................................................................................53
Dependent variable ................................................................................................53
Independent variables ...........................................................................................53
Instruments ...................................................................................................................54
Demographic questions ..........................................................................................54
Sociocultural Adaptation Scale ..............................................................................54
Reliability .........................................................................................................55
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Validity ............................................................................................................55
Spiritual Assessment Inventory .............................................................................56
Reliability .........................................................................................................56
Validity ............................................................................................................57
The 2-way Social Support Scale ............................................................................57
Reliability .........................................................................................................58
Validity ............................................................................................................58
Data Analysis .....................................................................................................................59
Research Question 1 ....................................................................................................59
Research Question 2 ....................................................................................................60
Research Question 3 ....................................................................................................60
Research Question 4 ....................................................................................................60
Research Question 5 ....................................................................................................61
Why Study the Questions? .................................................................................................61
Confidentiality ...................................................................................................................62
How I Gained Entry ...........................................................................................................62
Ethical Considerations of Human Subjects ........................................................................63
Summary ............................................................................................................................63
CHAPTER IV: RESULTS .................................................................................................65
Participants .........................................................................................................................65
Descriptive Statistics ..........................................................................................................70
Missionary Cultural Adjustment ..................................................................................71
Relationship with God .................................................................................................72
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