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Affective variables can help understand differences in student performance. This paper presents student expectations as an affective variable that has so far received little research attention. Students have expectations from educational providers, the fulfilment of which can create a positive learning environment leading to better performance. This study investigates students' expectations from programs, the sources of these expectations and the outcomes of unmet expectations. A questionnaire was administered to learners of English as an additional language (n = 65) in Brisbane, Australia. Factor analyses were conducted, and the results indicated that expectations are affected by levels of competitiveness, the educational and cultural gap between the home country and Australia, future orientation, and social value in the homeland. Unmet expectations affect performance, emotions, learning behaviour and cause rebelliousness. Follow-up interviews of teachers (n = 10) at the same institutions were conducted to validate the results of the study. Students are likely to exhibit poorer performance and experience negative affective outcomes, thus hindering learning, if expectations are unmet. They may consider changing institutions and providing negative recommendations to prospective students. This research extends the understanding of affective variables in second language acquisition and has practical implications for educational providers. (Contains 5 tables.)

This study investigates contributors to social well-being from the perspective of older migrants in Australia. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 33 participants in the 66–91-year age group, from Chinese, Vietnamese, Dutch, and German heritage backgrounds. At the time of the study, they were clients of a community service provider in Brisbane, Australia, and participated in the monthly social activities organised by the agency. Many of them also engaged in other social activities not organised by this agency. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts identified three main contributors to participants' social well-being: social integration through building strong connections with the ethnic community, social contribution through giving back to society, and social acceptance through assimilating into Australian society. However, the emphasis placed on these contributors was shaped by the participants' age at migration, English language ability, and reasons for migration, as well as heritage cultural backgrounds. These findings highlight the need for tailored support to enhance social well-being among older people from diverse cultural backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notes that in the aftermath of September 11th there is strong motivation to improve intercultural and international relations through communication. Explains that in many interethnic and intercultural contexts, participants are not motivated to communicate well. Concludes it is crucial to understand intercultural communications as simultaneously intergroup and interpersonal, to incorporate both aspects into intervention, and to advocate for such training to improve intercultural relations. (PM)

This article presents a study using Leximancer (a text-mining tool for visualizing the structure of concepts and themes in text) to track the history of the Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology's (JCCP's) research articles. We included 1,416 articles mapped by decade. Results reveal a strong overall orientation toward experimental psychology, with an early emphasis on child development. In more recent years, there has been a strong emphasis on the features of culture including values, orientation, and acculturation, with the journal now situated more centrally in social psychology and personality. JCCP is the most broad-based journal in cross-cultural psychology, and its development over 40 years clearly represents changes in the field.

Despite the numerous challenges of ageing in a foreign land, many older immigrants are fairly resilient and report experiencing good wellbeing. The key question that the present paper addresses is how this is achieved. Drawing on frameworks from cross-cultural and social identity literatures, the present study proposes and tests a model of serial multiple mediation that identifies possible mechanisms supporting the wellbeing of older immigrants who have resided in the host country for some time. In this model, it is predicted that new group memberships acquired post-migration enable access to social support that in turn provides the basis for perceived integration, which enhances wellbeing. This model was tested in a survey study with 102 older people, whose mean age was 80.3 years and who had migrated to Australia from Asian, European, and Central and South American countries on average 36 years previously. The survey assessed cultural identity, social group memberships acquired post-migration, perceived social support, perceived integration and wellbeing. Results supported the hypothesised model, indicating that joining new heritage culture and wider groups in Australia post-migration provided a platform for social support and integration, which enhanced life satisfaction and reduced loneliness. The implications of these findings for theory and adapting successfully to both migration and ageing are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2008.00412.x Byline: Matthew J. Hornsey (1), Cindy Gallois (1), Julie M. Duck (1) Author Affiliation: (1)School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia Article note: Matthew J. Hornsey; e-mail: c.gallois@uq.edu.au

Objectives: To explore the relationship between sun protection and physical activity in young adults (18-30 years) involved in four organised sports. Methods: Participants (n=237) in field hockey, soccer, tennis and surf sports completed a self-administered survey on demographic and sun-protective behaviours while playing sport. Differences in sun-protective behaviour were explored by sport and by gender. Results: Sunburn during the previous sporting season was high (69%). There were differences between sports for sunburn, sunscreen use and reapplication of sunscreen. Lifesaving had the highest rates compared with the other three sports. Hats and sunglasses worn by participants varied significantly by sports. A greater proportion of soccer and hockey players indicated they were not allowed to wear a hat or sunglasses during competition. For all sports, competition was played mainly in the open with no shade provision for competitors while they were playing. There were some gender differences within each of the sports. Female soccer and tennis players were more likely to wear sunscreen compared with males. Female hockey players were more likely to wear a hat compared with males. Conclusions: Our findings highlight that there is still room for improvement in sun-protective behaviours among young adult sport competitors. There is a need for a systematic approach to sun protection in the sporting environments of young adults. Implications: Health promotion efforts to increase physical activity need to be paired with sun protection messages. Key words: Health behaviour, public health practice, prevention, sun protection.