The present study investigated the relationship between level of object relations and cross-cultural adjustment in a missionary sample. It was hypothesized that the ego functions of current object relations, thought processes, reality testing, defensive functioning, and regulation of drives would be related to psychological and sociocultural adjustment. One hundred and sixty missionaries living in 46 countries completed a questionnaire assessing these variables. Canonical correlations confirmed the hypothesized relationships. It was concluded that object relations theory provides a useful framework for understanding an individual's capacity to adjust cross-culturally.
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