Female International Students Research Articles

Reclaiming & reasserting Third World womanhoods in U.S. higher education

AbstractThis study combines narrative inquiry with Third World feminism to bring a nuanced and scopic perspective of Third World women student experiences in US higher education. Specifically, it utilises Talpade Mohanty's concept of Third World womanhood to visibilise the experiences of five Third World international female students. Understanding womanhood as transnationally fluid and contextual, I investigate how women international students from the Third World perceive themselves to be misrepresented or homogenised in Western higher education. I also examine how gender and foreignness act as dynamic, interrelated categories in doubly‐othering this population. The purpose is to identify how Third World women students enact agency and contest reductive stereotypes. Findings reveal that Third World women students confront a range of exclusions in the US university, including being typecast as poor, needy, and civilisationally lacking, which predicates the (over‐) representation of Third World women as constrained and backward. Third World feminism emerges as a powerful intervention to unsettle colonial and oriental discourses in education and empower minoritised women to determinate selfhood.

‘Under the magnolia tree, our youth’: an autoethnography on friendship and sisterhood among female international doctoral students in New Zealand

ABSTRACT This paper demonstrates how my friendship with three other female Vietnamese doctoral students in New Zealand grew into an ‘academic sisterhood’ which was forged as an emplaced form of sociality that encouraged solidarity among us. As four female Vietnamese PhD students in New Zealand who shared intersecting identities as Vietnamese temporary migrants, women, mothers, and PhD students, we provided support for and learned from each other. The sisterhood strengthened my sense of belonging to both my home and host countries, and created a learning space for myself. I argue that the academic sisterhood was far more complexly imagined and meaningful than simple bonding networks of co-ethnic friendships, embracing the mixed emplaced and transnational nature of my friendship.

Hungry, Stressed, and Away From "Home": Predictors of Food Security and Perceived Stress Among International Students.

Examine the predictors of food security and perceived stress among international students. Cross-sectional Design. A public university in the Southwest United States. Sample size of Seventy-three participants (≥18 years). Self-report measures of food insecurity and perceived stress. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Adult Food Security Survey Module (AFSSM) to assess food security status, and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) questionnaire to evaluate stress levels. Logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of food security and perceived stress. Duration of stay in the U.S. was a predictor of food security status, while gender was a predictor of perceived stress. International students in the U.S. for less than a year had a lower chance of being food secure [OR (95% CI) = 0.22 (0.05 - 0.74)]. Female international students had a lower chance of experiencing low perceived stress [OR (95% CI) = 0.07 (0.00 - 0.51)]. In supporting international students, targeted nutrition and stress management interventions should be emphasized, particularly for females and those who recently moved to the U.S.

“Self-Fashioning”

Research on international students' integration into Western campuses tends to find that female international students may experience more difficulty in adjusting to new cultures than their male counterparts (Contreras-Aguirre & Gonzalez, 2017; Manese et al., 1988; Mallinckrodt & Leong, 1992). Few researchers have delved into what female Chinese international students have to offer. Using a phenomenological study frame and a critical and interpretative lens to conduct detailed interviews, this study explored how a group of Chinese female international students self-fashioned during these experiences navigating the U.S. study. Three major themes emerged in our female Chinese international students’ stories: their “self-fashioning” helps them (1) sophistically navigate the U.S. system better, (2) tactically fit into the new U.S. society, and (3) adaptively create more genuine personal identities. Implications were discussed at the end of this study.

Exploring Situational Factors for Female International Students and Their Satisfaction in Higher Education Using CB-SEM

Exploring Situational Factors for Female International Students and Their Satisfaction in Higher Education Using CB-SEM

Sexual health practices: A comparison of international and domestic students on Canadian campuses

Since 2011, an increasing incidence of sexually transmitted infections and risky sexual practices has been reported among young adults in Canada. However, research on sexual risk behaviours of international students in North America is limited, despite an increasing number of students from abroad attending higher education institutions on this continent. This article shares research findings comparing the sexual practices of international and domestic students in five postsecondary institutions in three Canadian provinces (Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec). Two hundred forty-two international students and 1220 domestic students took part in the bilingual online and paper-based survey. Female international students were less likely to be sexually active than international male, domestic male, and domestic female students. International students were significantly less likely to partake in many risky sexual behaviours, such as inconsistent condom use and unplanned sex after consuming alcohol or drugs. However, male international students were more likely to report having multiple sexual partners than male domestic students. These findings are relevant to those who counsel and advise postsecondary students on Canadian campuses and for healthcare practitioners to better understand postsecondary students’ sexual practices. Strategies to enhance sexual health and knowledge include targeted promotion of safe sexual practices and sexual education in postsecondary institutions.

Social Support, Academic Burnout, and Life Satisfaction of International Students

This study aims to explore the internal relationship between academic burnout, social support, and the life satisfaction of Chinese overseas students using the College Student's Learning Burnout Scale, the Social Support Scale, and the Life Satisfaction Scale to survey 167 international students. It is indicated by the results that the overall academic burnout of international students is at the upper-middle level, the level of objective support, subjective support, and overall social support of female international students is greater than that of male international students, but there is no significant difference in the utilisation of support between female and male international students. Social support has a significant and positive predictive effect on life satisfaction, while the relationship between social support and life satisfaction is negatively moderated by academic burnout.

Explaining fear of crime among university students: A comparison between national and international students in Istanbul

Past studies have highlighted the importance of studying the fear of crime among international students. Interestingly, though, most of this research has been in developed societies and has not directly compared international and indigenous/national students. To fill this gap, the current study aims to examine the determinants of fear of crime among domestic and international students in Turkey. Drawing upon a survey of 377 international students and 579 national university students studying in Istanbul, Turkey, during the Fall 2019 semester, the study finds that international students mostly feared being cheated or ‘conned’. In contrast, for the domestic students the threat from physical attack was of most concern. The results also indicate that among all gender groups for international and domestic students, female international students reported higher levels of fear of crime than all other sub-groups.

Healthcare-seeking of medical students: the effect of socio-demographic factors, health behaviour and health status – a cross-sectional study in Hungary

BackgroundMedical students are more likely to have various physical and psychological issues, but less information is available about the healthcare-seeking behaviour for physical and mental health issues. The aim of this study is to determine the factors affecting medical students’ healthcare-seeking when visiting a general practitioner (GP) and/or psychologist.Methods688 medical students (326 International and 362 Hungarian,) participated in a cross-sectional study. The information was gathered using a self-administered online questionnaire and covered socio-demographic background, health behaviour, general and mental health status and healthcare-seeking. For analysing adjusted associations, multivariable logistic regression models were used.ResultsOverall, 56.8% of medical students visit the GP; and 17.2%, the psychologist. Hungarian medical students visited the GP with chronic diseases, International medical students were more likely to visit a GP when they encountered sexual activity and had chronic diseases. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between sex, alcohol consumption, and perceived stress in the total sample of psychologist visits. When Hungarian medical students were in their clinical years and had a poor self-rated mental health, they were more likely to visit a psychologist. Whereas female international medical students and those who had poor self-rated mental health were more likely to seek psychological help.ConclusionStudents visit a GP and/or psychologist is associated with a variety of factors, including socio-demographic background, health behaviours, and health issues. Medical schools should encourage help-seeking behaviours and early disclosure of medical students. Their ability to grasp healthcare attitudes and designing treatments will be important for both their academic success and future profession.

How do medical students visit psychologists in Hungary?

Abstract Background Mental health problems are more common among medical students than other student groups, and although medical students as future physicians will be responsible to give advice people for seeking healthcare, they frequently avoid seeking advice for their own mental health problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing medical students’ decisions to seek psychologist comparing international (IN) and Hungarian (HU) students. Methods A self-administered questionnaire based cross-sectional study included 688 medical students (IN: 326; HU: 362) at the University of Szeged in 2021. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the correlations between the variables influencing students’ visits to psychologists. Results In the sample, 50.9% of students (IN: 49.7%; HU: 51.9%) had poor mental health, 17.2% of them (IN: 14.1%; HU: 19.9%) visited psychologists. Both IN and HU students were more likely to visit a psychologist when they reported poor mental health (IN: OR = 3.08, 95% CI 1.47-6.45; HU: OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.31-4.60). IN female students had significantly higher odds of visiting a psychologist than male students (OR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.11-4.41), and HU students were more likely to visit a psychologist when they were in the clinical years compared to the preclinical years (OR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.00-3.01). Conclusions Although healthcare-seeking behaviour is influenced by many factors, this study showed that the main reasons were the students’ mental health problems. Another point is that visiting psychologist was more typical during clinical years among Hungarian students what should encourage medical schools to improve students’ oriented mental health services. Key messages • Minimizing dangerous behaviour and providing medical students with proper mental health care. • Students have to get help during their final years to formal their career aims and reduce their stress level.

Menstrual Abnormalities in Female International Students in Japan: Changes during Pre-Arrival, Difficult, and Current Periods.

The number of Japan's international students has rapidly increased in the last decade. This study examines the relationship between menstrual abnormalities in cycle and symptoms, stress level, and lifestyle of female international students in Japan across three time periods, namely pre-arrival, difficult, and current time periods. A cross-sectional design was employed, and data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire, including the menstrual distress questionnaire (MDQ), between December 2022 and February 2023. The questionnaire was distributed to 56 female international students from two universities in Japan, and a total of 29 valid responses were collected. We found varying menstrual cycle abnormalities and severity of menstrual symptoms across three time periods, with the difficult period after arrival in Japan displaying the highest symptom severity. Higher stress levels were significantly associated with more severe menstrual symptoms. Lifestyle habits such as alcohol consumption were also linked to menstrual symptoms. The current study emphasizes the importance of providing menstrual education, support, and resources to address international students' unique challenges in managing their menstrual health while studying abroad. By promoting awareness, education, and access to healthcare services, universities may contribute to international students' well-being and academic success.

A study of postcolonial representation of sexual violence against female international students in Australian newspapers

ABSTRACT Sexual violence against female international students has received insufficient attention in academic research. This paper fills this void by analyzing how Australian newspaper articles, published from 2000 to 2019, portray sexual violence against these students through a critical framework informed by postcolonial feminist literature. The analysis reveals that the media tends to reinforce the idea of female international students as vulnerable and passive, reinforcing stereotypes through longstanding postcolonial tropes. Australian newspapers frequently portray them as ignorant, unhygienic, lacking credibility, or as exotic/sexual objects when covering sexual assault cases. Additionally, the media often invokes rape myths and engages in victim-blaming. Such representations in the newspaper may fail to offer a nuanced understanding of sexual violence experienced by female international students and downplay the importance of structural and environmental factors that contribute to this problem. The paper advocates for a change in media focus, urging great attention to structural and environmental factors while acknowledging the agency of international students. A more nuanced and contextualized understanding of sexual violence against female international students is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies that address the root causes of this issue.

Affective News, Affective Labor: Chinese Female “Little Editors” of WeChat Official Accounts in Australia

In Australia, WeChat Official Accounts is known as a hub for the production and distribution of affective news, or sensationalized content, among Chinese migrants. This article aims to address: Who/What is responsible for this form of content production on WeChat? Who are the people (re)producing news information for WeChat Official Accounts in Australia? How and why do they engage with such activities for Australia-based WeChat Official Accounts? And how do they shed light on our digital culture, economy, and platform labor? To address the questions, from 2019 to 2022, I conducted 27 semi-structured interviews with Chinese-Australian media professionals at both managerial and staff levels as well as conducted a longitudinal ethnographic observation with more than 200 Australia-based WeChat Official Accounts that translate news stories for the Chinese diaspora. The article argues that in Australia affective news on WeChat is the news story that conveys emotional resonance to Chinese migrant readers; it is predominantly produced by Chinese female little editors who work as affective labor. The employment of affective labor, that is, Chinese female international students or postgraduates, has led to the concentration of precarity, exploitation, and alienation among the groups of Chinese female little editors who are vulnerably exposed to the double exclusion coming from both neoliberalism in Australia’s dominant society and patriarchal normativity embedded in the Chinese migrant economy. The research findings shed light on the intensifying social inequality based on one’s race, ethnicity, gender, and social class that has been imposed and further normalized by digital technologies.

Constructing global citizenship identity through accumulating cultural capital: Chinese female international students’ experiences at a British university

Purpose This paper aims to explore Chinese female international students’ construction of global citizenship identity by examining their accumulation of cultural capital in different forms from transnational higher education in the UK. Design/methodology/approach Participant observations and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with Chinese female international students at a British university to explore their experiences with transnational higher education, cultural identities, the construction of global citizenship and perceived future job opportunities. Findings In this research, participants revealed that accessing a global elite university helps them accumulate institutionalised cultural capital. Embodied cultural cultivation acquired from transnational higher education is justified by students’ experiences in the context of transnational higher education. Rising confidence is shown by the participants’ narration and global-oriented awareness, which is their ability to understand and respect people from diverse cultural backgrounds, which was developed during their studies in the UK. However, they still realise the potentially difficult conversion of cultural capital to real job competitiveness. Recognition of global citizenship identity may be complicated if students plan to return home after studying. Research limitations/implications This study provides further insight into the single-child generation of globally mobile Chinese female international students. Participants were aware of the positive accumulation of cultural capital in its embodied and institutionalised forms obtained from the UK higher education system and its contribution to the construction of global citizenship identity. However, the newly constructed global citizenship identity remains complex. Participants question the extent to which the new identity fits into the Chinese social context if they decide to return home. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, the originality of the paper lies in expanding the global citizenship framework with the specific application of Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital to show Chinese female international students’ study experiences in UK transnational higher education, rather than addressing the Chinese international student experience in general.

Adjustment challenges and coping strategies of Arab female international university students.

Over the past decade, Türkiye has experienced an increasing influx of international students, particularly from various Arab countries. The significant number of Arab international university students has prompted researchers to pay more attention to the experiences of this population in the country. This study examined the adjustment problems experienced by Arab female international university students in Türkiye. The research has a mixed methods design and includes both quantitative and qualitative studies. In the quantitative study, the International Students Adjustment Scale (ISAS) was used with 373 participants to examine the challenges in which dimensions of adjustment (academic, sociocultural, or personal) were more challenging for the study group. In the qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 Arab female international university students to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences in the domain that is found the issues are more profound. Data from the quantitative study revealed that these students experienced similar challenges in each dimension of adjustment; however, problems in the sociocultural domain were much more profound. In line with the quantitative study, the interview questions of the qualitative study were prepared to explore the sociocultural domain and included the pre-arrival expectations, the post-arrival adjustment challenges, and the coping strategies of the study group. The Results of the qualitative study showed that although their prearrival expectations were almost met, they encountered various problems, ranging from cultural differences in daily activities to discrimination. It was also found that many of them were reluctant to ask for help, and to cope with adjustment problems, they usually used maladaptive or dysfunctional coping strategies such as avoidance and isolation. The findings of the quantitative study are in line with the previous studies that the overall adjustment of international students is influenced by different domains that are broadly academic, sociocultural, and personal. Among them, the sociocultural domain is found as the one in the study population that encounters more challenges. The results of the qualitative study support the findings of previous studies related to prearrival expectancies, provide more understanding of adjustment challenges and bring more information about adopted coping strategies.

The experiences of menstrual symptom changes among international students studying in China during the acculturation period: A phenomenology study

ObjectivesMenstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon among female which could be influenced by the process of acculturation. Few studies have explored the experience of menstrual symptom changes among international female students studying in China. Therefore, this paper aims to summarize international female students’ experiences of menstrual symptom changes when they were studying in China and interpret these changes through considering the influence of acculturation on their social and academic lives. MethodsWe used a descriptive phenomenology approach. Structured in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted between May and November 2019 among ten international female students studying in one Province located in south central China. Participants were those who reported having experienced menstrual symptom changes during the acculturation period, which was defined as the first six months of living in China. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 11.0 with the guidance of Colaizzi's seven-step method. ResultsThe international female students’ experiences of menstrual symptom changes were summarized and grouped into five main categories and 13 subcategories. The main categories include: 1) demonstration of menstrual symptom changes, 2) challenges of maintaining menstrual function in the new setting, 3) coping styles to take care of menstrual health, 4) consequences of the menstrual symptom changes, and 5) culture-based attitude toward menstruation. ConclusionsInternational female students reported experiences of menstrual symptom changes, including somatic and psychological symptoms during the acculturation period. Culture barriers, academic stress, and sleep patterns are common factors influencing their menstrual symptom changes. More culturally-tailored interventions should be explored to improve the menstrual health of international female students in China.

The Effects and Differences of Social Support, Depression, and Vital Exhaustion during the COVID-19 Pandemic among International and Domestic University Students.

Our study aimed to assess the differences between domestic and international students in terms of social support, vital exhaustion, and depression during the period of COVID-19 and to examine the relationships and potential effects of these factors on each other. The online cross-sectional survey was conducted via Google Forms® at three time intervals during the pandemic. Here, 1320, 246, and 139 students completed our questionnaires in the different time intervals. The international students reported significantly lower values in terms of perceived social support. Concerning depression, the international female students reported higher values than the domestic female students. Significant correlations were found in both samples between vital exhaustion and depression, as well as between perceived social support and depression. In this study, the international students reported lower levels of perceived social support and higher levels of depression, particularly among females. The correlations between depression, social support, and vital exhaustion might highlight protective and risk factors. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing social support and mental health among university students, especially among international students who have a difficult time finding social support during times of stress, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘The pandemic helped me!’ Queer international students’ identity negotiation with family on social media in immobile times

This article examines queer international students’ negotiation of sexuality and family ties maintenance during the Covid-19 pandemic. In considering the transitions in queer identity making, I highlight the complexity of coming out to parents. The performative dimension of social media allows queer international students to curate selective presentations and connect with their families digitally in immobile times. However, the technological affordance of social media is porous and productive, triggering the possibility of leakage and accidental outings but enabling negotiation afterwards. Drawing on two rounds of in-depth and social media scroll-back interviews with 20 Chinese queer female international students in Australia in 2021, this article identifies the social roles of social media in managing ties between queer international students and their overseas parents ( shielding, leakage, and routing). It also complicates the extant implications of pandemic immobility in a specific context of queer transitions.

Transnational Language Teacher Identities in TESOL: Identity Construction among Female International Students in the United StatesHyesunCho, ReemAl‐Samiri and JunfuGao. New York: Routledge, 2023. ix+168

Transnational Language Teacher Identities in <scp>TESOL</scp>: Identity Construction among Female International Students in the United StatesHyesunCho, ReemAl‐Samiri and JunfuGao. New York: Routledge, 2023. ix+168

Loneliness and Psychological Well-being of University International Students: The Role of Self Esteem

The aim of the present study was to examine the moderating role of self-esteem in the relationship between psychological well-being and loneliness among university international students. The sample (n = 129) was drawn conveniently from university international students. The age range of the sample was 18 to 40 years. The Psychological Well-being scale by Ryff CD [1] Rosenberg self-esteem [2] and UCLA loneliness scale was used to measure psychological well-being, self-esteem and loneliness respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was used to find the relationship among study variables. Hierarchical regression showed that self-esteem did not moderate the relationship between loneliness and psychological well-being. Independent sample t-test revealed that Female international students significantly have a higher level of loneliness than males.