Language and identification predictors of academic, psychological and sociocultural adaptation: Mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong universities

Purpose: Hong Kong and mainland China share similar cultures, but there are linguistic, cultural and economic differences between these two “sibling cultures”. Hong Kong universities have received a significant increase in the number of Mainland Chinese students due to government initiatives aimed at transforming Hong Kong into a regional education hub. This study seeks to investigate the role of competence in second language (L2) communication and acculturation strategies in the cross-cultural adaptation of these sojourning students. 

Design/methodology/approach: Aligned with the hypothesized model, this study gathered data from 208 Mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong, collecting demographic details and employing validated measurement tools. It assessed academic, sociocultural and psychological adaptation, acculturation and proficiency in second language (L2) communication. Path analysis utilizing Mplus software and structural equation modeling were applied for analysis. 

Findings: The results from the structural equation modelling suggest that having a strong ability to communicate in a second language and identifying with people from the same country as oneself can greatly influence how well one adapts to a new culture. Additionally, identifying with people from the host country can contribute to socio-cultural adaptation. The main objective of this research is to contribute to the existing literature on cross-cultural adaptation and communication and provide valuable insights that can be used to inform curriculum design and educational policies and practices. 

Originality/value: This study introduces a distinctive approach by integrating second language willingness to communicate (L2 WTC), acculturation and adaptation within an interactive and responsive model. It pioneers the examination of the interplay between acculturation strategies, L2 WTC and adaptation. Additionally, the research distinguishes itself by employing structural equation modeling to explore the intricate variables associated with cross-cultural adaptation among Mainland Chinese students in a unique social context where non-local students predominantly share a common ethnicity and cultural background with the local population. Copyright © 2025 Baohua Yu and Jinxin Zhu.