The Acculturation Strategy，Acculturative Stress And Adaptation Outcomes Of Expatriates Working In Some Foreign Enterprize In Shanghai

With the development of globalization, more and more attention has been paid to theacculturation of immigrants and sojourners. Lots of research has been focused on theacculturation of Chinese people. However, most of them are focused on Chinese peoplewho immigrate into other nations. Few are focused on the acculturation of foreign peoplein China. Even among these, most are focused on international students in China. In thepast30years, Shanghai, as a cosmopolitan city, has attracted more and more expatriates.However, the acculturation of expatriates in Shanghai has not aroused as much attention asit deserves.This present study attempts to fill the gap by studying the acculturation strategy,acculturative stress and adaptation outcomes, both socio-culturally and psychologically, ofexpatriates working in a certain foreign enterprise in Shanghai. The study aims to explorethose and the relationship between acculturation strategy and adaptation outcomes, and thatbetween acculturative stress and adaptation outcomes and factors influencing adaptationoutcomes, in the hope of providing helpful suggestions for expatriates adapting inShanghai in the future.In order to pursue the research aim, both quantitative method and qualitative method areemployed in this study. Questionnaire is designed and distributed during the author’sinternship in the foreign enterprise. Data were collected and analysed with IndependentSample T-test. In addition, semi-structured interviews were carried out to obtain more data.Research findings include that expatriates working in the foreign enterprise werewell-adapted in Shanghai with a low degree of sociocultural difficulties and high degree oflife satisfaction and self-esteem. Generally, expatriates had a medium level of acculturativestress, which is highly correlated with adaptation outcomes. Those who were betteradapted experienced lower degrees of acculturative stress. This research also shows thatacculturation strategy is closely related to adaptation outcome. Those who have chosenintegration were better adapted with higher esteem, lower loneliness, and lowersocio-cultural difficulties. Other factors such as previous overseas experience, Chinese level and knowledge of Chinese culture, motivation, social circle, and host attitude had agreat impact on adaptation outcomes. This study provides encouraging results for futureintercultural studies on the acculturation of expatriates working in Shanghai.