The Importance of a Sense of University Belonging for the Psychological and Academic Adaptation of International Students in Germany

Abstract. Although a sense of university belonging has been established as a crucial factor for students’ academic success and subjective well-being, little is known about its importance regarding the adaptation of international students in Germany. Likewise, few studies have addressed the long-term reciprocal relations of a sense of university belonging and psychological and academic outcomes. To close this research gap, we analyzed data from N = 3,837 international students with a set of cross-lagged panel models. The results showed that a high sense of belonging is beneficial for international students’ adaptation in Germany as it is related to better well-being, higher study satisfaction, and lower drop-out intention. Furthermore, these indicators of psychological and academic adaption predicted the development of a sense of university belonging across the study entrance period, which points to the dynamic relationship between both kinds of constructs. We discuss the theoretical implications and the implementation of interventions that promote a sense of university belonging to increase the psychological and academic adaptation of international students in Germany.