Abstract

The present research aimed to examine how psychological factors, such as coping strategies and motivations underlying the choice to migrate, might influence acculturative stress and psychological adjustment of international students attending university in Italy. Participants were 80 international students at the University for foreigners of Perugia. Path analysis revealed that the relationship between self-determination and psychological adjustment, was mediated by acculturative stress experienced by international students. Distancing coping was associated to acculturative stress, while avoidance coping and problem solving coping showed a direct path to adjustment. These findings can be useful for organizing services aimed at supporting international students, specifically with respect to the Italian context.