PREDICTORS OF THE ENJOYMENT AND MISSING EXPERIENCES OF MALAYSIAN STUDENTS IN HOME COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS

Abstract

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to identify the predictors of the adaptation experiences of Malaysian students in home country and overseas, from two perspectives: missing and enjoyment experiences. At Time 1, 2090 responses were collected from a group of students who were enrolling at various overseas preparatory studying programmes (later termed as overseas students) and also first year students who were continuing their education at a public university in Malaysia (later termed as home country students). At Time 2, 628 of the participants were retained. The predictor variables were Time 1 well-being indicators (i.e. life satisfaction, positive and negative affect), importance and satisfaction of conservation and self-transcendence values, perceived success (measured by the Malaysian Certificate of Examination results and perceived English language fluency), personality, and parents’ level of education. The findings showed that overseas students who had a low level of English language fluency and a high level of importance of conservation and satisfaction of self-transcendence values tended to miss home. Similarly, overseas students who were less fluent in English were less likely to enjoy their life abroad. Whilst for the home country students, the high level of negative affect predicted their missing experience, and none of the predictor variables were found to be significant in contributing to enjoyment experience.