Psychosocial Correlates of Stress among International and American Students

Abstract

Student life in college tends to be stressful since it entails a variety of demands and challenges. Academic demands and psychosocial factors cause stress in students, besides compounding factors like personal commitments, life events, and inadequate social and economic supports in pursuing college education. This study investigated academic stress among international students (N=90) in comparison to American students (N=131) and identified the psychosocial correlates of stress using the Gadzella’s SLSI. Furthermore, this study not only portrayed the characteristics of international students but also determined the predictors of stress from among factors like social support or social provision, social desirability, and general health. This study concluded that both American (domestic) and international students experience stress. American (domestic) students were found to have higher levels of stress. However, cultural factors of international students are intertwined with the perception and expression of emotions relating to stress and mental health. The study recommends that higher educational institutions should beef up support services such as counseling to deal with stress, time management, wellness and mental health, and guidance about campus support services. Further research is needed on student stress comparing these two groups.