1. Study Abroad Meana (SD) Non-Study Abroad Meana (SD)
Culturally Relevant Leisure Experiences as Predictors of Intercultural Sensitivity Among Study Abroad Students
Samantha L. Powers, Nate E. Trauntvein, Ph.D., Robert J. Barcelona, Ph.D., Cindy L. Hartman, Ph.D.
Department of Recreation Management & Policy, University of New Hampshire
Background
Bivariate analysis
Final linear regression
Study abroad programs promote desired 21st century skills including global awareness, cross-cultural communications, and intercultural sensitivity1
Research has suggested the importance of culturally relevant leisure within study abroad
Benefits of intercultural contact through recreation2
Intercultural sensitivity (IS) and language acquisition outcomes3
Final Regression Model for Intercultural Sensitivity
Factors N
Overall Meana (SD)
Study Abroad Meana (SD)
Non-Study Abroad Meana (SD)
F Value
Sig.
Overall Intercultural
Sensitivity Score
112
94.07 (10.27)
98.2 (10.05)
91.69 (9.69)
11.407
.001
Respect for Cultural Differences
4.24 (.59)
4.54 (.43)
4.07 (.60)
19.176
.000
Interaction Enjoyment
4.06 (.61)
4.23 (.64)
3.97 (.57)
4.809
.030
Interaction Engagement
3.95 (.48)
4.19 (.40)
3.82 (.48)
17.891
Interaction Attentiveness
3.74 (.54)
3.92 (.55)
3.64 (.51)
7.123
.009
Interaction Confidence
3.53 (.61)
3.50 (.70)
3.54 (.55)
.118
.732
International News
Intercultural Sensitivity
R2=.344***
Β = .412
Β = .301
Films & Music in Foreign Language
* p ≤ .050, ** p ≤ .010, *** p ≤ .001, Only significant variables were used in this model
Bennet’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity explains the way in which we interact with the world around us and experience cultures different from our own4
Discussion
Significant differences between students who have studied abroad and students who have not studied abroad in 4 of 5 domains of IS
Students who have studied abroad have higher levels of IS than those who have not studied abroad
Limited variance in IS among study abroad students
As Murphy et al. (2014) suggests, likely because students who opt to study abroad are fundamentally different than those who don’t and therefore are predisposed to higher levels of intercultural sensitivity
Importance of participation in culturally specific activities, especially media based activities
Get at cultural nuances
People with higher IS can understand and experience these
Experience of Difference
Proposed Regression model
Full Regression Model for Intercultural Sensitivity
International Travel
Guiding question
International Cuisine
Foreign Websites
Is there a significant relationship between culturally relevant leisure during the study abroad experience and level of intercultural sensitivity?
Intercultural Sensitivity
Films & Music in Foreign Language
International Talks & Presentations
Management Implications
Methodology
International News
Embrace media within study abroad
University managed programs should consider how to integrate media into pre-departure and in-program education
Educate students on country-specific media before they go abroad
Future research should expand to other universities to increase sample size and make comparisons among program types
Quantitative survey
Distributed by university’s study abroad office to all students studying abroad in Summer and Fall 2017 (n=51)
Control group of students who had not studied abroad (n=71) and were of similar class standing
Intercultural Sensitivity Scale5
24 Likert items
Measurement of frequency of participation in culturally relevant leisure6
Culture
Participation in Culturally Relevant Leisure
Language
Measure of Comfort/Difference
Linear regression to examine the relationship between frequency of participation in culturally relevant leisure and intercultural sensitivity while controlling for language and cultural comfort
Contact:
1Black & Duhon, 2006; Dolby, 2004; Medina-Lopez-Portillo, 2004; Olson & Kroger, 2001, 2Floyd and Shinew, 1999; Kim, Heo, Lee, Suh, & Kim, 2015, 3Engle & Engle, 2004; Murphy, Sahakyan, Yong-Yi, & Magnan, 2014, 4Bennett, 1993; Bennett, 1998; Bennett, 2014, 5Chen & Starosta, 2000, 6Murphy, Sahakyan, Yong-Yi, & Magnan, 2014 j