Theoretical substantiation of the model of socio-psychological adaptation of foreign students in the context of affiliation motivation

The substantiation of a model of socio-psychological adaptation of foreign students with an emphasis on affiliation motivation has been presented. The main characteristics, various forms, key criteria, and specific difficulties that foreign students face when immersing themselves in a multinational academic environment have been considered. The peculiarities of changes in the dynamics of the motivational and need sphere of foreign students in Russian higher educational institutions, with special attention to affiliation motivation and its importance for the individual socio-psychological adaptation process, have been analyzed. The model of socio-psychological adaptation has been proposed based on the assumption of the dual nature of affiliation motivation, including the desire for acceptance and fear of rejection. Foreign students may lack motivation for affiliation, while their socio-psychological adaptation to study in another country may be successful. The criteria for successful socio-psychological adaptation of foreign students in this model are high adaptability, acceptance of oneself and others, moderate internality, emotional comfort, moderate escapism, high level of interactivity and intercultural competence, low level of depression, nostalgia, alienation, social frustration, and subjective experience of loneliness. The practical significance of the proposed model lies in the fact that when developing adaptation programs for foreign students, a differentiated approach is needed, considering the presence and severity of the need for affiliation and fear of rejection.

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