Academic adaptation: Mediating the relationship between intercultural sensitivity and life satisfaction in international postgraduate students in China

Abstract

Since 2017, China has emerged as the third-largest destination globally and the largest in Asia for international students. However, a significant structural imbalance exists among these students. This study investigated how intercultural sensitivity affects life satisfaction among international postgraduate students in China, with a specific focus on the mediating role of academic adaptation. Using survey data from 444 students across four universities in Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Chongqing, this study employed structural equation modeling to examine these relationships. The findings show that intercultural sensitivity positively predicts both academic adaptation and life satisfaction, and that academic adaptation partially mediates this relationship. This study offers important implications for improving international students' educational experiences in China by enhancing intercultural competence and academic support mechanisms.