Adjustment problems of Taiwanese students and the relationship between their extent of adjustment and level of self-actualization

This study was designed to investigate the adjustment problems of Taiwanese students enrolled in the fourteen schools of Metro Manila and the relationship between their extent of adjustment and level of self-actualization. The areas identified for adjustment are personal, school, and cultural and social. For self-actualization, the scales are time competence, support, spontaneity, self-acceptance and capacity for intimacy. The hypothesis presented is that there is a significant relationship between the five scales of self-actualization and adjustment of the Taiwanese students. It was assumed that the self-actualized students will also have a high level of adjustment. This study utilized the descriptive research design using the survey technique, and data were collected by the use of two questionnaires, one is the adjustment inventory (prepared by the researcher), and the other one is the Personal Orientation Inventory (constructed by Everett L. Shostrom). The number of subjects who responded was 133 (71 of the total Taiwanese students in Metro Manila). The findings of the study revealed that the respondents were moderately adjusted in their adjustment level (overall M = 3.26) and three adjustment areas were considered as problems by the respondents. Three areas are the sense of not belonging in this country, the difficulties in dealing with visa application, and the difficulties in applying study permit, re-entry, etc. in the minsitries. The respondents tended to be non-self-actualized on POI Time Competent Ratio (M = 1:2.27) and tended to be normal on Support Ratio (M = 1:1.55). The correlation between overall adjustment and five scales of self-actualization were .70, .43, .30, and all significant at the .01 level. Thus, the hypothesis was suported. Based on the findings, it can be said that the characteristics of self-actualized people help strengthen the individuals\u27 capacity to adjust to a new environment. Some suggestions were given by the research such as proper preparation, clear goals and plans, an open attitude to the different habits and practices, organization for the Taiwanese students association and seminars on self-actualization. All these may help the Taiwanese students improve their adjustment process during their stay in the Philippines