The Role of Social Networks in the Adjustment of African Students to British Society: Students' perceptions

African students studying abroad have to adapt to a new cultural environment in addition to the usual stresses of school. This article uses social network theory to analyse findings about perceptions of the role played by social network members in the adjustment of 29 African students to British society. The findings come from a study that the author undertook to explore students' perceptions of adjustment problems and concerns they experienced, as well as the role played by social networks. The study found that the composition of students' network members was largely other African students and that contact among them was dense. While students perceived this contact as supportive, they also reported that sometimes it was a source of stress. Other network members who played a role in students' adjustment were family members, most of whom were left behind in the students' native countries, supervisors and lecturers, medical personnel, counsellors, sponsors, and the personnel of accommodation offices and the international students' offices. Students' networks played various roles, including both supportive and non-supportive. Supportive functions included the provision of emotional, informational, spiritual and financial support, advice and social companionship. Non-supportive aspects of network members included discrimination, domination, gossip, and students' inability to improve their knowledge of English and to learn about the cultures of the host country that arose from what the students called 'too much' contact with students from their own region. The article also outlines implications of the findings for practice and research.