Facilitating Recovery through Building an Interconnected Community: From Awareness to Action

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 995-1002
Author(s):  
Kyunghee Ma
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
International Students ◽  
Support Systems ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Asian International Students ◽  
Outreach Programs ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Health Complications

This article describes stress that many Asian international students experience during their adjustment to U.S. universities. Reflecting on personal experiences that contributed to deeper self-understanding, I explain cultural incompatibilities that cause this stress, the negative impact that the stress has on mental health, and the lack of support systems that exacerbate mental health complications. In highlighting the prioritization of the mental health in Asian international students and initiating community outreach programs, I demonstrate that when Asian international students participate in creating an interconnected community, they have the potential to thrive despite the stressful adjustment period.

COVID-19 and the Learning, Teaching, Assessment, and Personal Experiences of UK-Based International Students During Lockdown

2021 ◽  
pp. 144-166
Author(s):  
Muzammal Ahmad Khan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
International Students ◽  
Time Allocation ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Online Interaction ◽  
Training Time ◽  
Teaching Assessment ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
The Impact

COVID-19 has brought challenges to the education systems globally. This chapter aims to examine the impact of the pandemic crisis from the viewpoint of international students. This involves a survey-based descriptive study distributed during lockdown to international students studying at UK universities. Students were affected by raised stress and anxiety levels, particularly female PhD students who identified as having lower levels of resilience than their male counterparts and other cohorts. International students perceived positive issues resulting from the experience, for example the use of digital assessments and online interaction, as well as negative issues including lack of support and poor communication. Implications include improving communications, training, time allocation for educators, support for students lacking adequate ICT software and connectivity, and provision of key support for mental health.

Asian International Students’ Mental Health-Related Outcomes

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 278-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Joel Wong ◽  
Kenneth T. Wang ◽  
Cara S. Maffini
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
International Students ◽  
Asian International Students ◽  
Health Related

scholarly journals Developing Tailored Messages to Improve Mental Health and Adjustment of Asian International Students

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Jin ◽  
Lalatendu Acharya
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
International Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Asian International Students ◽  
College Life ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Tailored Messages ◽  
Seeking Help

The purpose of the study was to develop tailored messages improving mental health and adjustment of Asian international students (AIS) in the US. The PEN-3 cultural model was used to contextualize the role of culture in mental health needs of AIS. Messages were developed through a multi-step participatory process with consisting of three focus groups (n=15), thirteen individual interviews, one expert consultation, and finally an online survey (n=85). The study led to the development of seven broad themes with seven tailored messages under each theme (total 49). Seven broad themes were: increasing the awareness of mental health and reducing stigma; motivational quotes; available and accessible resources for AIS to improve mental health; seeking help from social network and developing interpersonal skills; adjusting to American culture and college life; coping strategies to reduce stress and improve mental health and adjustment; and safety issues. The implications for culturally responsive programs are discussed.

Understandings of mental health, disclosure, help-seeking and psychological adaptation among Asian international students studying in Scotland: a sequential multi-method study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Cogan ◽  
Yvonne Chin-Van Chau ◽  
Xi Liu ◽  
Steve Kelly ◽  
Tony Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
International Students ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Mental Health Literacy ◽  
Psychological Adaptation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Asian International Students ◽  
Negative Beliefs ◽  
Multi Method Approach

International students often face psychosocial, academic, financial and adaptation challenges within the Higher Education (HE) environment that may impact on their mental health. The current study explored the understandings and experiences of Asian international students (AISs) in terms of mental health, disclosure, help-seeking and adaptation specific to cultural relocation within Scotland. A sequential multi-method approach was adopted consisting of two studies: (1) a qualitative study using individual semi-structured interviews with AISs (n=10) (Study 1) and (2) a cross-section survey comparing AISs and non-AISs (n=172) in terms of mental health literacy and psychological adaptation within the Scottish context (Study 2). Qualitative data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a thematic approach. Quantitative data were analysed using regression and mediation analysis. Study 1 revealed three themes: (1) Negative beliefs, stigma and fear of judgment impacting on understandings and disclosure of mental health issues, (2) Adaptation and acculturation difficulties (lack of sense of belonging), and (3) Barriers in communication and social disconnection. Study 2 showed that AISs reported lower levels of mental health literacy, which in turn resulted in poorer psychological adaption compared to non-AISs. Supporting AISs in HE institutions involves challenging negative judgements surrounding mental health, increasing mental health literacy and addressing barriers in overcoming adaptation, acculturation and communication difficulties that may inhibit disclosure and help-seeking behaviour. The importance of mental health policies, supports and services in embracing culturally diverse understandings of mental health, challenging stigma and having culturally competent staff supporting student mental health within a multicultural learning environment is emphasised.

scholarly journals Challenges in Acculturation among International Students from Asian Collectivist Cultures

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Kyunghee Ma ◽  
Ronald Pitner ◽  
Izumi Sakamoto ◽  
Hyun Young Park
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
International Students ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Acculturation Stress ◽  
University Policy ◽  
Asian International Students ◽  
Acculturation Process ◽  
Holistic Understanding

Many international students coming to a U.S. university, especially those coming from a collectivist culture such as Asia, experience acculturation stress due to encountering different cultural norms and values. Lack of available resources may limit their coping ability, and prolonged exposure to acculturation stress may result in a decline in mental health. Asian international students may be at greater risk of developing mental health complications due to additional stressors derived from their cultures such as family recognition through success, emphasis on emotional self-control, and stigma toward mental illness. In this context, accumulated and unresolved acculturation stress may increase psychological vulnerabilities. Despite its relevance, there is no conceptual framework examining acculturation experiences of this student population. This article aims to present a conceptual framework of the acculturation process of Asian international students. Such a framework is important because it not only provides a holistic understanding of the acculturation process for Asian international students, but also provides an avenue for a comprehensive empirical inquiry. Furthermore, research-based evidence will help inform a more effective and inclusive university policy addressing the various needs of international students in order to provide intervention when necessary.

"Professional Psychological Help-Seeking Attitude of Asian International Students in Japan"

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-126
Author(s):  
Won-Tack Lim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
International Students ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
International Student ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Domestic Students ◽  
Professional Help ◽  
Asian International Students

"As globalization advances, the world's international student population has continuously risen. Among this enlarged population, numerous students face adjustment problems after realizing unfamiliarity with the host culture at certain points in their sojourns, which often trigger severe psychological distress. Previous studies conducted in the U.S. university settings have pointed to the underutilization of mental health resources by international students as one of the primary risk factors for the betterment of psychological health. Up to the present, however, there is very limited research carried out in places other than leading countries of North America and the British Commonwealth on the topics of international students’ mental health. Different from the predominant research settings of existing research, this article attempts to clarify the distinction in professional help-seeking willingness between Japanese domestic students and international students from other Asian regions who were enrolled in a Japanese university, performing an independent Two-sample Z-test analysis. The result of the findings showed that both Japanese domestic students and Asian international students scored below average in willingness to seek professional help from mental health providers. It also demonstrated that the degrees of local students’ help-seeking willingness did not significantly differ from those of international students. Implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research are also discussed."

scholarly journals Confucianism and Accents: Understanding the Plight of the Asian International Student in the U.S.

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer T. Young
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
International Student ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Acculturation Stress ◽  
Counseling Services ◽  
Asian International Students ◽  
Cultural Challenges ◽  
Cultural Consideration ◽  
Asian International Student ◽  
The U.S

Research has shown that international students experience acculturation stress while adjusting to life in the U.S., resolving over time. However, acculturation stress can be exacerbated by several factors, leading to a negative impact on academic performance and general wellness. Asian international students traditionally underutilize counseling services on campuses. This article reviews the literature of the experiences of Asian international students studying in the U.S. The author offers Confucianism as a cultural consideration to explain cross-cultural challenges experienced by Asian international students and their campus community. Suggestions to support Asian international students are made based on findings of the literature review.

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