A longitudinal study about the influence of Japanese students\u27 study-abroad experience on the self-evaluation change

The aim of this study is to examine what Japanese non-elite studens\u27 study-abroad experience bring them and what is the meaning for their future life. The findings from the longitudinal questionnaire investigation were :(l)Self-esteem and self-efficacy were significantly higher during studying-abroad than before going-abroad. (2) Self-esteem, self-efficacy, sociallife-skills and feeling of adjustment related each other especially those who had no goiong-abroad experience before. (3)Among self-consciousness scales, only public self-consciousness was significantly lower after returning Japan than before going-abroad. (4) Examining a person\u27s 3 time data of self-esteem and self-efficacy identifyed, it was recognized that there were several changing patterns. For the interpretation of the patterns the concept of "Socio-ability status" was proposed. The interview data were introduced and discussioned as well. It is found from this study, for Japanese students their study-abroad experience grow their self-evaluation, make them find worth living thereafter and set their aim in life.publishe