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situational lonely person typically accepts the loss and recovers from loneliness. Transient loneliness is the most common form and refers to
shorter bouts of feeling lonely.
2.2.6 Aspects of loneliness
In summary, a variety of loneliness typologies have been presented, emphasizing three fundamental aspects of loneliness, feelings of deprivation
concerning the absence of certain relationships, Peplau Perlman, 1982. A negative evaluation of the situation, feelings of deprivation concerning the
absence of certain relationships, and the time perspective associated with loneliness.
Most typologies stress one of these aspects as the dominating principle. In this way, some focus on differences in situational or role characteristics, while
others emphasize differences in time perspective.
2.3 International Students
International students are students who cross national borders for their education. These students leave behind their family and social network and
become sojourners of other countries. There are 166 active international students studying at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta. The
166 student are divided into 98 males and 68 female students. These
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students come from different countries such as, Singpore, Somalia, South Africa, Thailand, East Timor and Malaysia. The international students are
allowed to study in any faculty at the university. Since the year 2001 Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta has been receiving new
international students. The university is not functioning at the level of international standards. They do not have any facilities that satisfy the needs
of the international students. There are no counseling services available for the students, which at any university counseling service are one of the most
important things that should be available. There is no international association available that represent the international students and not to mention no
special activities as a means of interaction between the international students.
Two years ago, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta, establish an International office. This international office is suppose to help the students
with academic difficulties and paperwork that are needed to be completed at an annually basis. To the surprise of the students, services that are available
for them is nothing much than shame. Students are never helped on a regular basis. Academically there is no special data being kept about these students.
Every time students need help, no one is there to see to the needs of the students. So the students are left in a confused position, having to run up
and down and trying to solve their problems all by themselves.
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2.4 The relationship between adjustment and loneliness.
Although intercultural contact is at the heart of the acculturation experience, the effects of this contact on sojourners social and psychological adaptation
remain a subject of debate. This is due in part to varying emphases on the affective, behavioral and cognitive components of acculturation Ward,
2001a. It is further compounded by competing theoretical approaches that frame intercultural encounters as a source of uncertainty and anxiety
Gudykunst, 1985, on one hand, and as an avenue of culture learning and social support, on the other Berry, 1997; Bochner, 1982.
Those who have highlighted the benefits of intercultural contact in sojourner research have examined both the quality and quantity of intercultural
interactions as predictors of adaptation. Research has shown that having local friends is associated with decrements in psychological distress
Redmond Bunyi, 1993. Frequent social contact with host nationals relates to general adjustment and sojourn satisfaction Pruitt, 1978;
Torbiorn, 1982.
It has also been associated with communication competence, fewer academic problems, and fewer social difficulties in student sojourners
Pruitt, 1978; Ward Kennedy, 1993a; Ward Searle, 1991; Zimmerman,
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1995. These positive findings, however, are by no means uniform; there are also instances where more frequent contact with host nationals is
associated with negative psychological outcomes for sojourners, including depression, mood disturbance and identity conflict Leong Ward, 2000;
Ward Kennedy, 1992, 1993a.
Mixed findings such as these should not be surprising in themselves. The contact hypothesis tells us that contact person is insufficient to enhance
inter-group perceptions and those specific features of the contact, including the status of its participants and the purpose and the outcomes of the
interactions, have psychological and social consequences for inter-group relations. Similarly, specific features of intercultural contact are likely to have
psychological and social consequences at the intrapersonal level.
Certainly, the quality of intercultural interactions affects sojourners psychological well-being Stone Feinstein Ward, 1990. Research has
shown that comfort and satisfaction with host national contact are associated with greater sojourn satisfaction Klineberg Hull, 1979; Rorlich
Martin, 1991 and enhanced psychological and social adaptation Searle Ward, 1990; Ward Kennedy, 1993b.
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Loneliness has been noted as a common consequence of cross-cultural transition Pruitt, 1978; Sam Eide, 1991 and is cited as one of the most
significant problems experienced by sojourners Chataway Berry, 1989. It is predicted by low satisfaction with friendships both locally and overseas
Wiseman, 1997 and has been linked to various forms of psychological distress, including global mood disturbance Stone Feinstein Ward, 1990;
Ward Searle, 1991, decrements in life satisfaction Neto, 1995, and lowered satisfaction with coping abilities Chataway Berry, 1989.
Consequently, we hypothesize that the quality and quantity of intra-cultural and intercultural contact will predict decrements in loneliness and that
loneliness, in turn, will directly affect psychological adaptation by leading to elevated symptoms of depression.
2.5 Framework
