The COVID-19 Pandemic's Stigma Effects on Chinese International Students' Lives and Mental Health

Abstract

As COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, China, spreads globally in 2019, there has been a surge in discrimination against people of Chinese descent. Negative labels such as "disease carrier" and "potential threat" have become closely associated with the Chinese community, resulting in social segregation characterized by exclusion, discrimination, and, in some cases, physical harm. This study aims to explore whether the stigma against Chinese international students still exists today when the epidemic has ended. This study collected 100 questionnaires from Chinese international students in Western countries regarding personally identifiable information, personal experiences of stigma, and reactions to stigma. By analyzing the questionnaire data, the stigmatization experiences of Chinese international students after the epidemic were summarized. Stereotypes such as "virus carriers" that arose during the epidemic still existed and continued to affect the 324dc health of Chinese students who study abroad. At this same time, many Chinese students were able to recover from the trauma quickly, but there are still some students who have difficulty or are unable to fully recover from the trauma. This paper hopes to draw the attention of more overseas universities to this current situation and create a healthier and more inclusive learning environment for international students.