Communication and the Challenges of Sojourner Readjustment: An Exploratory Study
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Issue Date
2010-05-19Author
Kidd, Mary Anna
Publisher
University of Kansas
Format
157 pages
Type
Dissertation
Degree Level
Ph.D.
Discipline
Communication Studies
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This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
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Show full item recordAbstract
Sojourners, people who live and work overseas and then return home, face challenges. One challenge is finding someone to listen to their stories about living overseas and their readjustment. Readjustment literature explores the difficulties of readjustment, and what facilitates the process. This study focused on the challenges of talking about international and readjustment experiences after returning home. This thematic analysis was focused on semi-structured interviews with 24 returned sojourners who met specific criteria, including living overseas for a minimum of two years, and spending their formative years in the U.S.. Respondents identified potential functions of sharing including preserving memories, building interpersonal connections, managing emotions, and clarifying new understandings. Their responses demonstrate that these functions contribute to a satisfactory repatriation experience.
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