Health Of International Students Research Articles

(Dis)connection between Multiculturalism, Higher Education and Health: Experiences of International Students in Portugal during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Multiculturalism may point to the idea of ‘cohesion in diversity’, but if differentiated institutional policies and practices do not accompany it, it may contribute to promoting or deepening inequalities between different groups/cultures. Given the increase in students’ international mobility, multicultural awareness in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) must be considered. Based on this idea, this article aims to answer: (i) what were the main health problems (physical and mental) that international students (IS) in Portugal experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (ii) how they perceived their health rights in Portugal. To this end, we used data from an online survey, which was made available to all IS enrolled in a Portuguese HEI between April and May 2020, and from 22 online interviews conducted between September 2020 and January 2021 with some of these students. The results showed that the pandemic impacted the mental health of IS; fear, anxiety and stress were some of the symptoms experienced. Portuguese public health services have been perceived as untrustworthy by IS, and some students’ experience reinforces the untrustworthiness. The research shows the (dis)connection between multiculturalism, health, and HEIs. While HEIs promote multiculturalism, they have failed to provide answers in the field of health that take into account the specificities of their different student groups.

Vulnerability and Resilience in a Mobile World

Diverse groups of people experience vulnerability in an increasingly mobile world. Populations relocate to other countries for many and varied reasons including economic, environmental, personal safety and/or educational considerations - generally for a better life.International students form a large and important component of this phenomenon. For international students, education is key to their success. International students are currently facing new challenges, particularly those from China who have been impacted by the Coronavirus situation and the resulting travel restrictions, study implications, visa concerns, and general community ignorance giving rise to xenophobia – all contributing further stresses. These challenges are in addition to long-held pressures including being away from traditional family supports, adapting to a different culture, study pressures and loneliness. 
 For more than 16 years my work has focussed on the safety and security needs of international students. While the vulnerability of international students has been consistently brought to the fore in my research, so too has their resilience. The vulnerability experienced by international students relates to risk and opportunity (Forbes-Mewett, 2020). These dimensions are factored into the decision to leave one’s home country and the security of family and traditional support networks for the opportunity of an international education. Such decisions demonstrate an undeniable aspect of bravery. 
 In a 2015 study, I interviewed 150 key informers including international student support staff and international students across the US, the UK and Australia in relation to the issue of safety from crime (Forbes-Mewett et al., 2015). Importantly, the study acknowledges that most international students do not become victims of crime (Forbes-Mewett et al., 2015, p. 1). The interviewees paint a vivid and nuanced picture of international student vulnerability among many examples of resilience. Their poignant narratives help our understanding of how challenges are overcome and why international education is a crucial part of the contemporary mobile world.
 More recent work explored international students’ vulnerability in relation to food security, housing and campus security in Australia, the US and the UK (Forbes-Mewett, 2019). Once again, it was shown the difficulties international students face and how they navigate and develop coping mechanisms that present examples of great resilience. In relation to food security, the 2019 study presents a case of a student who communicated regularly with her mother at meal times via mobile phone text message to ask and receive cooking instructions. For this student, who had no experience in preparing her own meals, not only did the strategy provide cooking instruction and ways to enjoy culturally appropriate food but it also ensured comforting communication with a close family member at mealtime. 
 The above dimensions, among others, continue to contribute to international student vulnerability and at the same time present challenges to be faced and overcome – in many cases they are. Of recent times, the long existing issue of the psychological well-being/mental health of international students is gaining traction (Forbes-Mewett 2019). This attention is long overdue and crucial for helping international students manage their mental health to enable the successful completion of their studies. The mental health of Singaporean students was explored to find that this group, over a period of time, shifted from perceiving mental health issues as a taboo subject to a level of acceptance that they are a part of everyday life for many people (Gan and Forbes-Mewett, 2019a). Further, the practice of seeking help was found to be desirable, notwithstanding acknowledgement that the help on offer seemed to mismatch what was expected (Gan and Forbes-Mewett, 2019a). This work was extended to show that intercultural adjustment tends to be a stressful process for international studentsand as a consequence it was contributing to a higher risk of vulnerable mental and emotional states (Gan and Forbes-Mewett, 2019b). 
 In summary, the vulnerability of international students is a topic of ongoing concern with many and varied contributing factors such as outlined above. However, the resilience of international students in the face of such vulnerability is to be applauded. Given nations benefit so greatly from international education we all must take responsibility to address the vulnerability of international students and ensure that they are well-supported in their educational pursuits and desires for a better life. To this end, my work relating to international students continues unabated.

Acceptability of HIV Screening in a Sample of International Students in the United States.

Background and Objectives:HIV transmission from persons unaware of their HIV status occurs more commonly than those who are aware of their status. Knowledge of one’s HIV status may encourage preventive behaviors. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many international students may be willing to accept HIV screening, but empirical evidence to support this claim is lacking. We sought to determine the willingness of international students in the United States (US) to accept HIV screening, if offered.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online survey of international students at Western Illinois University, USA. The independent variable was the sociodemographic data of our participants; the dependent variable was the acceptance of HIV screening. The covariates were knowledge about HIV and the factors associated with the acceptance of the screening. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis were conducted.Results:A total of 185 respondents out of 491 students participated in the online survey. Of these, 107 (57.8%) were males, and 78 (42.8%) were females. Most of the respondents were from Asian countries (64.9%) and African countries (24.9%). The prevalence of acceptance of HIV screening was 74%. Among participants willing to accept screening, if offered, 90% perceived screening would be beneficial to their health. Meanwhile, 83% of those who would refuse the screening were not sexually active.Conclusion and Global Health Implications:Many international students may be interested in getting HIV screening if offered. Awareness of the benefits of HIV screening may influence the decision to screen. Findings may inform further studies that will lead to policy formulations for the health of international students in the US.

Food Insecurity and Health of International Students at a Southern University

Food Insecurity and Health of International Students at a Southern University

Acculturative Stress and Mental Health of International Students: A Systematic Review

The aim of the present study is to review of empirical studies to examine the relationship between acculturative stress and mental health of international students. A literature search using JSTOR, Google Scholar and J-Gate database covers the period from 1995 to 2015, the author acknowledged 20 peer reviewed papers (full text) gathering inclusion criteria. Search terms were Acculturation, Acculturative stress, mental health, and international students. This search generate many empirical studies which includes participants from African, Arabian, Asian, Bosnian, Caribbean, Chinese, Iraqi, Korean, Latino, Oceania, Mexican, Norway, Lebanese, Somali, and Greenland countries. The majority of them were from Psychology, Psychiatry, Sociology, Social Science, Anthropology, Nursing, Health Promotion, Science, Life Science and Medicine. Six parameters proposed by Zhang and Goodson (2011) have been selected to assess the internal validity of reviewed studies; viz., research design, validity coefficient of criterion measure on own data, reliability coefficient of criterion measure on own data, reliability and validity coefficient of different predictor measures on own data, statistical analysis, effect size. Current review demonstrated contradictory findings on the relationship between acculturative stress and mental health of international students. The information of acculturative stress of international students studying in India has not yet been ascertained. Theoretical and practical issues have been discussed.