Psychological Distress in Iranian International Students at an Australian University

Uncanny Phenomenon: Existential Experiences Among Iranian International Students

Cross-cultural transitions can evoke reflections about existential concerns. Yet, the literature on international students’ adjustment has neglected this important aspect. To explore existential concerns that may arise during acculturation, we conducted semistructured interviews with six Iranian international graduate students studying in Canada. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, we identified three overarching themes: (a) Migration as a Boundary Situation, (b) Facing Existential Concerns, and (c) Coping with Existential Concerns. Results highlighted a connection between feelings of not-being-at-home or uncanniness in an unfamiliar host culture and existential reflections. Results also revealed that existential inquiries may be masquerading as adjustment problems. Overall, the findings challenge pathologizing views of cross-cultural adjustment difficulties and highlight the lack of attention to geopolitical factors affecting international students’ experiences. We call for practitioners to consider the possible presence of existential concerns during acculturation, and the sociopolitical contexts into which international students acculturate.

Mental health, coping strategies, and social support among international students at a Canadian university

Objective. This study aimed to explore the mental health status, coping strategies, and social support of international students in Canada. Participants. Undergraduate and graduate international students studying at one Canadian university participated in an online survey. Methods. The survey consisting of four assessments-the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the Carver Brief-Cope Inventory, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support-was distributed during the winter and spring terms of 2020. Results. Of the 338 participants from 53 countries, 76% demonstrated optimal mental health without mental disorders; 86% used approach coping strategies. Those who are women, married, and Ph.D. students showed better mental health and lower psychological distress. Coping skills and social support significantly predict participants' psychological distress and subjective well-being. Conclusions. This study findings address the gaps in meeting the mental health needs of international students and raise awareness of this population's unique mental health status.

Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviours and Psychological Distress: A Longitudinal Study of Australian Adults Aged 45 Years and Older

Individual associations between lifestyle behaviours and mental health have been established; however, evidence on the clustering of these behaviours and the subsequent impact on mental health is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between combined unhealthy lifestyle behaviours (physical activity, sitting time, sleep duration, processed meat consumption, vegetable consumption, fruit consumption, smoking status, alcohol consumption) and the development of psychological distress (measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) in a large Australian sample. Participants were 163,707 Australian adults from the 45 and Up Study. Data from baseline (2006–2009) and follow-up wave 1 (2012) were analysed using binary logistic regression. The odds of reporting high or very high psychological distress at follow-up were significantly higher for those reporting five (AOR = 2.36; 95% CI 1.41–3.97, p = 0.001) or six or more (AOR = 3.04; 95% CI 1.62–5.69, p = 0.001) unhealthy lifestyle behaviours, in comparison to those reporting no unhealthy lifestyle behaviours at baseline. These findings suggest that a holistic, multi-faceted lifestyle approach addressing multiple behaviours may be required to support and promote positive mental health and to reduce the likelihood of psychological distress.

A Bibliometric Review of Research on International Students' Mental Health: Science Mapping of the Literature from 1957 to 2020

The mental health of university students is not only a predominant topic for psychology and education researchers but also a source of interest for policymakers and various stakeholders. Although there has been a lot of research on higher education students’ mental health, we have little understanding on the mental health of international students (MHIS). Despite their distinctive characteristics compared to native students, the mental health issues of international students only started receiving attention very recently. So far, the literature on this topic lacks a comprehensive overview of its sub-topic and trending issues. By using bibliometric analysis, this research aims to fulfil this gap and provide a review of the extant literature about MHIS. Specifically, this study aims to (i) draw the growth trajectory and geographic distribution of the literature on MHIS; (ii) identify the documents and authors that have the greatest impact, generally and locally, within the major topic clusters of the literature on MHIS; and (iii) identify the most researched keywords in the literature on MHIS over time. The results have shown that academic documents about international students’ mental health are increasing in number and becoming more extensive content-wise. The research’s findings provide implications for stakeholders and identifies some prominent research avenues for the future.

Self-Rated Health and Psychological Distress among Emerging Adults in Italy: A Comparison between Data on University Students, Young Workers and Working Students Collected through the 2005 and 2013 National Health Surveys

Background. The present study aimed at comparing self-reported physical health and mental health among university students, workers, and working students aged between 19 years and 29 years. Method. Using data from National Health Surveys held in 2005 and 2013, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 18,612 Italian emerging adults grouped into three groups: university students, workers, and working students. The odds ratios of self-reported anxiety or depression, poor general health, and poor mental health and physical health (as assessed through SF-12) were estimated through logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Results. Compared with workers, students showed an increased risk of anxiety or depression and a lower risk of poor general health. Students and working students showed an increased risk of reporting weak mental health compared with that in workers, while students displayed a lower risk of poor physical health. Significant differences were not found between the 2005 and 2013 surveys. Conclusions. These results are of considerable importance for psychologists as well as educational and occupation-based institutions for planning prevention programs and clinical interventions.