Sojourner reentry: a grounded elaboration of the integrative theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation

ABSTRACT

This paper offers grounded evidence in support of the elaboration of Kim's [(2001). Becoming intercultural: An integrative theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage] integrative theory of communication and cross-cultural adaptation (ITCCA) to include sojourner reentry. Findings from 24 intensive interviews validate the heuristic value of ITCCA in the reentry context, but also reveal unique features that set reentry adaptation apart from cross-cultural adaptation. Key theoretical contributions include (1) a nuanced description of the role of reentry communication competence, (2) greater complexity of the roles and networks of interpersonal and mediated communication upon return, (3) an expansion to the environment domain to include “home environment,” and (4) a long-range perspective on the development of functional fitness, psychological health, and intercultural personhood. Implications for sojourner reentry training are addressed.

KEYWORDS:

• Reacculturation
• reentry shock
• identity
• intercultural personhood
• sojourner
• study abroad
• grounded theory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. I reference “a grounded theory approach” in recognition of on-going scholarly debate about what counts as a “true” grounded theory (Charmaz, 2014). I followed data collection and data analytic procedures established by grounded theorists to generate in-depth experiential data and probe those data for theoretical richness and connections. I used an emergent design, but also engaged in a constant-comparative practice between emergent codes and ITCCA domains as sensitizing constructs.