The measurement of sociocultural adaptation

Abstract

This paper examines the construct of sociocultural adaptation and describes the development and refinement of its measurement. Psychometric analyses of the Sociocultural Adaptation Scale (SCAS) are presented based on the compilation of data across a large number of sojourner samples from an emerging program of research. The measurement and patterns of sociocultural adaptation are examined across: (1) 16 cross-sectional samples, (2) 4 longitudinal samples, and (3) 1 paired comparison between sojourning and sedentary samples. Selected cross-sample comparisons are reported, and the relationship between sociocultural and psychological adjustment across samples is discussed. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.