Department of Communication, Michigan State University.
Health Commun. 2022 Nov;37(13):1631-1639. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2021.1910167. Epub 2021 Apr 8.
Chinese international students (CIS) in American universities encounter serious mental health issues, and they also underutilize campus mental health care services. The current study examined several factors which result in this phenomenon, such as Chinese face concerns, self-stigma of seeking help for mental health services, as well as English proficiency and language discrimination. A survey with 433 CIS in multiple U.S. universities was conducted to analyze the relationships between these factors above, help-seeking intentions, and mental health problems (depression and anxiety). The SEM results suggested that face concerns increased the risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety and also increased self-stigma toward seeking mental health services. However, face concerns positively influenced help-seeking intentions. The self-stigma had a negative effect on help-seeking intentions. Perceived English discrimination increased mental health problems while English proficiency increased help-seeking intentions. Meanwhile, both linguistic factors above were significantly associated with face concerns. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed to investigate how to address mental health problems among Chinese international students.
美国大学的中国留学生（CIS）遭遇严重的心理健康问题，同时也未能充分利用校园心理健康服务。本研究探讨了导致这一现象的几个因素，如面子问题、对寻求心理健康服务的自我污名化，以及英语水平和语言歧视。对美国多所大学的 433 名 CIS 进行了一项调查，以分析上述因素、求助意愿与心理健康问题（抑郁和焦虑）之间的关系。结构方程模型的结果表明，面子问题会增加抑郁和焦虑等心理健康问题的风险，同时也会增加对寻求心理健康服务的自我污名化。然而，面子问题会积极影响求助意愿。自我污名化对求助意愿有负面影响。感知到的英语歧视会增加心理健康问题，而英语水平则会增加求助意愿。同时，上述语言因素都与面子问题显著相关。讨论了理论和实践意义，以探讨如何解决中国留学生的心理健康问题。
