Personality as a predictor of complex problem-solving in cross-cultural adaptation: a study of African international...

Cross-cultural adaptation is a multidimensional process shaped by both contextual resources and individual dispositions, yet it remains unclear whether personality operates uniformly across adaptation domains, particularly in relational host contexts such as China. This study examined whether personality tendencies are associated with cross-cultural adaptation among African international students in China, and whether associations vary across holistic, cultural, life, and interpersonal domains.

We used a cross-sectional, quantitative-dominant design. Survey data were collected from 199 African international students enrolled across seven universities in Changsha, China. Personality tendencies were assessed using the 21-item Extraversion scale from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ). Cross-cultural adaptation was measured with a 39-item Likert-type instrument capturing holistic, cultural, life, and interpersonal adaptation. Analyses included chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA for bivariate comparisons, and OLS regression models with robust standard errors comparing Model 1 (personality only) versus Model 2 (personality + demographic/study-related covariates, with university and major fixed effects). Supplementary semi-structured interviews (n = 7) were used to contextualize quantitative patterns.

Extroversion was positively associated with adaptation outcomes, with the most consistent and pronounced pattern observed for interpersonal adaptation. In adjusted models, associations with holistic and life adaptation remained robust, whereas the association with cultural adaptation attenuated after covariate adjustment. Descriptively, 57.7% of extroverted students reported good interpersonal adaptation compared with 9.1% of introverted students. Interview narratives highlighted social communication demands, relationship-building, and culturally embedded interaction norms as salient challenges, providing contextual support for the domain-specific quantitative pattern.

Personality tendencies-especially extroversion-are linked to cross-cultural adaptation in a domain-differentiated manner among African international students in China, with strongest implications for interpersonal adjustment. Findings support the value of differentiated, personality-sensitive student support strategies in international higher education.