Perceived Discrimination, Ethnic Identity, and Mental Distress Among Asian International Students in Korea

Abstract

This study explored the associations between perceived discrimination, ethnic identity, and mental distress among 118 Asian international college students in Korea. Perceived discrimination and ethnic identity were included as critical factors in international students’ adaptation to living in Korea, and their associations with self-report measures of depression and anxiety were explored using canonical correlation and latent profile analysis. Based on studies identifying two types of discrimination, we explored how each discrimination type relates to mental distress. Results indicated (a) students’ perceptions of personal rejection (i.e., demeaning and overt acts of discrimination) were significantly associated with depression and anxiety, and this association was stronger than that of perceived unfair treatment, and depression and anxiety (b) students’ exploration of ethnic identity had a positive relationship with anxiety. These results suggest the need to provide additional supports for international students engaged in the exploration process. The current results also suggest that Asian international students’ adaptation experiences in Korea may differ from those international students in other countries as reported in the literature. More attention and study with international students is needed to seek possible common parameters of adaptation in diverse cultural contexts of host countries.