The adjustment of children aged 9-12 to international relocation
The adjustment of children aged 9-12 to international relocation
This research arose from a perceived need to outline a broad theoretical and conceptual base to the adjustment of children to international relocation and to address a lack of information available in the literature. The research constitutes four major enquiries and examines the process of adjustment to the relocation of children aged 9-12 during their first year in a new international environment.
For the first enquiry a questionnaire was developed (the Relocation Adjustment Questionnaire) to investigate the empirical relationship between anxiety and the five adjustment factors which constituted the independent variables (n=324). This was found to have potential as both a research and a diagnostic tool. The construction of the RAQ in conjunction with idiographic work through structured interviews and case studies led to the development of theoretical and diagrammatic models of both the adjustment process involved in international relocation as well as the anxiety experienced by the children. These models are in accordance with developmental theory in terms of cognitive and self-processes and are situated within the existing literature on resilience and coping as a response to stressful life events. An initial approach was also made on relating self-concept theory to the adjustment of children which led to the development of an experimental course aimed at examining self-concept issues during international relocation.
This enquiry also sought to expand the knowledge available on positive growth related factors associated with international relocation, as a contrast tot he predominantly negative and linear 'medical' model that has been a feature of much early literature and relating this knowledge to the experiences of children. A growth perspective demonstrates the importance of principles of cognitive behavioural theory in the understanding of a family approach to international relocation.
University of Southampton
1998
Alston, Enid Alison
(1998)
The adjustment of children aged 9-12 to international relocation.
University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
This research arose from a perceived need to outline a broad theoretical and conceptual base to the adjustment of children to international relocation and to address a lack of information available in the literature. The research constitutes four major enquiries and examines the process of adjustment to the relocation of children aged 9-12 during their first year in a new international environment.
For the first enquiry a questionnaire was developed (the Relocation Adjustment Questionnaire) to investigate the empirical relationship between anxiety and the five adjustment factors which constituted the independent variables (n=324). This was found to have potential as both a research and a diagnostic tool. The construction of the RAQ in conjunction with idiographic work through structured interviews and case studies led to the development of theoretical and diagrammatic models of both the adjustment process involved in international relocation as well as the anxiety experienced by the children. These models are in accordance with developmental theory in terms of cognitive and self-processes and are situated within the existing literature on resilience and coping as a response to stressful life events. An initial approach was also made on relating self-concept theory to the adjustment of children which led to the development of an experimental course aimed at examining self-concept issues during international relocation.
This enquiry also sought to expand the knowledge available on positive growth related factors associated with international relocation, as a contrast tot he predominantly negative and linear 'medical' model that has been a feature of much early literature and relating this knowledge to the experiences of children. A growth perspective demonstrates the importance of principles of cognitive behavioural theory in the understanding of a family approach to international relocation.
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Published date: 1998
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Local EPrints ID: 463645
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/463645
PURE UUID: 5aac02f4-26b3-441b-83d4-82e0d1364208
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Date deposited: 04 Jul 2022 20:54
Last modified: 04 Jul 2022 20:54
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Author:
Enid Alison Alston
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