Cultural and musical adaptation as pathways to social sustainability: the mediating role of sense of belonging and the moderating role of cultural intelligence

Social sustainability has emerged as a significant concern in higher education. Increasing emphasis is placed on the impact of students’ cultural backgrounds, music adaptation, and relationships on their well-being and ability to integrate into diverse academic environments. This study applied acculturation theory and social identity theory to examine the influence of culture and music adaptation on social sustainability, considering sense of belonging as a mediator and cultural intelligence as a moderator, among international students in Northern Cyprus.

Data from 761 international students, collected through purposive and convenience, sampling techniques were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modeling in SmartPLS 4. The study revealed a significant positive influence of cultural and music adaptation on social sustainability and sense of belonging. Further, the study identified a significant positive relationship between sense of belonging and social sustainability.

Additionally, the study revealed partial mediating effects of sense of belonging on cultural adaptation and social sustainability, as well as on music adaptation and social sustainability. Moreover, the study confirmed the moderating effect of cultural intelligence on the relationship between cultural adaptation and social sustainability, as well as between music adaptation and social sustainability. Advancing inclusive and flexible cultural environments can serve as a strategic approach to enhance students’ health, integration, and sustainable social cohesiveness.

Atatürk Education Faculty Music Teaching Department, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus Department Ministry of Education, PhD Music Teacher, Sht. Mehmet Hasan Tuna St., Nicosia, Cyprus The authors declare no competing interests. This study was approved by the Scientific Research Ethics Committee of Near East University (Approval No.

Ethical approval was granted on 14 May 2024. All procedures involving human participants were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the Committee and with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and its subsequent amendments or comparable ethical standards. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their individual participation in the study.

Participants were informed about the purpose of the study, the voluntary nature of their participation, the confidentiality of their responses, and their right to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant on the day of their participation during the data collection period between 1 October 2024 and 31 December 2024. Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.