Social Support, Psychological Adjustment, and Acculturative Stress among International Students in Baguio City of the Philippines

International students' cross-cultural living though exciting, can be challenging as they experience stress due to the continual changes and adaptation difficulties in host countries. During the acculturation process, these students' stress subjects them to poor mental health and well- being. Initial evidence suggests a link between social support, psychological adjustment, and acculturative stress experienced by students. This study examined the extent of social support, psychological adjustment, acculturative stress among international students and their relationship. This descriptive- correlational study utilized 125 international students in Baguio City, Philippines, using a convenience sampling method, and researchers contacted students to answer an online distributed self-constructed questionnaire. The questionnaires had a Cronbach alpha of 0.78 for social support, 0.86 for psychological adjustment, and acculturative stress as 0.82. Data were analyzed descriptively using parametric inferential statistics by relying on regression analysis in SPSS and central tendency. The study revealed that international students experience very high acculturative stress. International students also reported low social support and a very high psychological adjustment. The study revealed a moderately negative significant relationship between psychological adjustment and acculturative stress. The study also revealed that there is a highly negative significant relationship between social support and acculturative stress. Results of this study imply that students with low social support often encounter high acculturative stress. In the present study, international students reported a very high psychological adjustment, although they have high acculturative stress. The study recommends that international students engage in more innovative programs and activities to maintain their psychological adjustments. Social support network systems should also be strengthened in both host and home countries to reduce acculturative stress. Future research studies should investigate social support sources and other factors contributing to high acculturative stress among international students.