Dinamika Adaptasi dan Motivasi : Studi Kasus Mengatasi Culture Shock dan Kesepian pada Mahasiswa Perantau

Abstract

This study investigates the psychosocial dynamics and adaptation processes of migrant students navigating higher education in a new cultural environment. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach, initial descriptive quantitative data were gathered from 17 migrant university students in Central Java via digital questionnaires, followed by in-depth semi-structured interviews with selected case study informants. The findings reveal that early transition challenges are predominantly driven by language barriers, dialect differences, financial independece, and homesickness, leading to temporary social awkwardness and culture shock. Homewever, students actively mitigate these pressures through proactive coping mechanisms, such as building new peer networks, joining campus organizations, engaging in personal recreational activities, and maintaining regular remote communication with family. Furthermore, high cultural awareness and an internal locus of control enable students to respect local norms without losing their primary identities. The study concludes that students equipped with a growth mindset view these socio-cultural hurdles not as psycological threats, but as essential catalysts for personal independence and resilience, highlighting the importance of targeted institutional support systems for incoming migrant students.