Assessing changes in mood state in university students following short-term study abroad.

Noriko Yamagishi,Berta Schnettler,Norberto Eiji Nawa,Tsukasa Yamanaka,Stephen J. Anderson

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0261762

Abstract

Short-term study-abroad (STSA) programs provide a more accessible alternative for students who would otherwise not consider engaging in academic activities overseas. Though improvements in the levels of intercultural sensitivity and general academic aspects attained by STSA programs have been previously examined, much less is known regarding the impact such programs have in the mood of students. Here, we examined changes in mood state associated with participation in an STSA program in a group of Japanese university students. Mood states were assessed using the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6). Results indicated that the POMS mean scores of Vigor-Activity and SWLS peaked at the time immediately following participation in the STSA program; moreover, the same scores were found to be at comparable levels even one month after the end of the program. These results indicate that participation in STSA programs can positively influence the mood state of university students, suggesting that the benefits associated with participation in such programs extend beyond typically reported improvements in the academic domain.

Highlights

Though the multifaceted benefits of participation in study-abroad programs are well documented [1], the percentage of Japanese students engaging in international academic programs remains low at approximately 1% [2]
Results from a survey sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology conducted in 2017 [3] revealed that parents who enjoy a higher socioeconomic status are more likely to consider the possibility of sending their children to study abroad (55%) than lower socioeconomic status counterparts (26%), suggesting that for Japanese students, access to financial resources can act as a primary deterrent for participation in SA programs
We sought to examine changes in the mood of Japanese university students who took part in a short-term study-abroad (STSA) program of one week duration, in which fieldwork activities were undertaken with the help of local students

Summary

Introduction

Though the multifaceted benefits of participation in study-abroad programs are well documented [1], the percentage of Japanese students engaging in international academic programs remains low at approximately 1% [2]. Results from a survey sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology conducted in 2017 [3] revealed that parents who enjoy a higher socioeconomic status (i.e., income and level of education) are more likely to consider the possibility of sending their children to study abroad (55%) than lower socioeconomic status counterparts (26%), suggesting that for Japanese students, access to financial resources can act as a primary deterrent for participation in SA programs. Author -N/A The full name of each funder -Ritsumeikan Inamori Philosophy Research Center URL of each funder website -http://www.ritsumei. Author -N/A The full name of each funder -Ritsumeikan Inamori Philosophy Research Center URL of each funder website -http://www.ritsumei. ac.jp/research/riprc/eng/ Did the sponsors or funders play any role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript? -NO

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