Trading Cultures, Transforming Lives

It is increasingly popular for college students to
study abroad. Almost 250,000 students from the U.S.
study abroad each year. Students often report that
their time abroad is transformative, enriching, and
one of the best experiences of their lives. These
glowing reports are encouraging, but until now there
have been very few scientific research studies on how
going abroad affects students'' identity and personal
growth. This book describes a thorough and empirical
investigation of how students change while abroad.
Students abroad experienced personal growth, higher
life satisfaction, higher self-esteem, and other
positive changes. Students with certain traits, such
as extraversion and openness to experience, were
especially likely to experience positive change.
Various social behaviors abroad, as well as living
with a host family, were associated with identity
change. The findings are also explained in terms of
three well-known theories of identity. Findings from
this study can help students, parents, and
study-abroad professionals take steps to ensure that
study abroad is a particularly rewarding and
meaningful event.

Autorentext
Sarah Angulo received her Ph.D. in social/personality psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2008. She has performed research on romantic relationships, self-esteem, and how students change when they study abroad. She currently teaches psychology at Texas State University, San Marcos. She also consults on study-abroad issues.

Klappentext
It is increasingly popular for college students to study abroad. Almost 250,000 students from the U.S. study abroad each year. Students often report that their time abroad is transformative, enriching, and one of the best experiences of their lives. These glowing reports are encouraging, but until now there have been very few scientific research studies on how going abroad affects students' identity and personal growth. This book describes a thorough and empirical investigation of how students change while abroad. Students abroad experienced personal growth, higher life satisfaction, higher self-esteem, and other positive changes. Students with certain traits, such as extraversion and openness to experience, were especially likely to experience positive change. Various social behaviors abroad, as well as living with a host family, were associated with identity change. The findings are also explained in terms of three well-known theories of identity. Findings from this study can help students, parents, and study-abroad professionals take steps to ensure that study abroad is a particularly rewarding and meaningful event.