Akiba Daisuke, Perrone Michael, Almendral Caterina
School of Education, Queens College & The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, Queens, New York, NY 11367, USA.
School of Education, Queens College, The City University of New York, Queens, New York, NY 11367, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Nov 26;21(12):1562. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21121562.
The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique and unprecedented challenges for international students, those studying at institutions of higher education outside of their home countries, due to their distinct circumstances and vulnerabilities. This literature review examines the multifaceted mental health burdens they experienced and highlights the need for targeted support and interventions.
A rigorous search across three databases (i.e., PubMed, PsycINFO, and ERIC) yielded 50 empirical studies for inclusion in this literature review. A six-phase thematic analysis framework was employed to identify and synthesize key themes.
Seven prominent themes emerged: (1) academic and professional disruptions; (2) challenges navigating international student status; (3) social isolation and loneliness; (4) difficulties with living arrangements; (5) financial and food insecurity; (6) health concerns for self and loved ones; and (7) experiences of discrimination and xenophobia.
This review highlights a range of tolls that mental health consequences took on international students, and it suggests the need for targeted interventions and support services to address these challenges. It also identifies critical research gaps, such as the need for longitudinal studies and comparative analyses with domestic students. The implications for inclusive policies and supportive environments to promote international students' well-being are discussed.
由于其独特的处境和易受伤害性，新冠疫情给国际学生，即那些在本国以外的高等教育机构学习的学生，带来了独特且前所未有的挑战。这篇文献综述考察了他们所经历的多方面心理健康负担，并强调了针对性支持和干预措施的必要性。
在三个数据库（即PubMed、PsycINFO和ERIC）中进行严格检索，筛选出50项实证研究纳入本文献综述。采用六阶段主题分析框架来识别和综合关键主题。
出现了七个突出主题：（1）学业和职业中断；（2）国际学生身份相关挑战；（3）社会隔离与孤独；（4）生活安排困难；（5）经济和粮食不安全；（6）对自己和亲人健康的担忧；（7）歧视和仇外经历。
本综述强调了心理健康问题给国际学生带来的一系列不良影响，并表明需要针对性的干预措施和支持服务来应对这些挑战。它还指出了关键的研究空白，比如需要进行纵向研究以及与国内学生的比较分析。文中讨论了促进国际学生福祉的包容性政策和支持性环境的意义。
