Sociology Report: Mental Health Challenges for International Students

This report analyzes the mental health challenges experienced by international students in Australia and the U.S., drawing on research articles. It explores issues such as acculturation stress, academic adjustment, and sociocultural factors impacting their well-being. The report examines the findings of studies on the mental health of international students, including the role of university support, social relationships, and cultural differences. The report highlights the importance of understanding these challenges to provide appropriate support to international students. It also reviews strategies to minimize the negative effects of transition and offers recommendations for universities and students. The report presents the findings from various studies, including the impact of Confucianism on Asian international students and the different styles of adaptation used by international students. The report further includes the findings of the roles of university support for international students in the United States and how it affects their psychological well-being.

Running Head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Forbes-Mewett, H. and Sawyer, A.M., 2016. International students and mental health.
Journal of International Students, 6(3), pp.661-677.
In Australia, international students from all around the world arrive to study. It
is observed that the cases of mental illness among the international students are high as
compared to the domestic students of Australia. Since 2000, increased number of cases of
mental illness among the youth, especially international student has been reported. In this
journal, in depth interview among the 16 professional of Go8 (group of 8) Australian
university, who are working in an internationalized university among international university
are conducted by researchers.
From the result of the interview conducted among the professional it is
evaluated that the international students do get effected mentally more than that of the
domestic students of Australia and more number of mental illness cases are recorded. The
findings behind their mental disturbance is the cultural difference, adjustment to new
unfamiliar academic system and seeking and recognizing help of professional for mental
issue.
The result found in the article after the interview is irrelevant with as in the
article the interview is conducted among the professional who have encountered mental issue
among the international students, but if the interview could be conducted among the students,
better outcome will be encountered, but the result found in the article is relevant to the
current condition of the international students.
Mesidor, J.K. and Sly, K.F., 2016. Factors That Contribute to the Adjustment of
International Students. Journal of International Students, 6(1), pp.262-282.
International student has to face a lot and also has to do compromise in order to
adapt the new academic environment. In this article, the researcher explored the factors that

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are responsible for the cultural, social, academic and physiological adjustment in case of
international students. Reason behind the stress faced by the students as been identified such
as depression and homesick. The article helps in providing strategies that could be used in
order to minimize negative effect of transition among the international students.
From the article is evaluated that, because of the transition from their country
to different country can cause stress among the students. They have to adjust with the new
academic environment. Adjustment issue identified for the physiological and social stress are
homesickness, anxiety and depression. In addition, recommendation are also provided that
helps the international students to overcome the issue.
As stress, depression and anxiety is observed frequently amongst the
international students. Hence the article is found to be relevant to the current situation of the
issue. The reason behind the stress in international students I identified. Based on that the
recommendation such as involvement in student affair, hiring of international students,
encouragement to learn new culture and cultivation of resilience is formulated.
Russell, J., Rosenthal, D. and Thomson, G., 2010. The international student experience:
Three styles of adaptation. Higher education, 60(2), pp.235-249.
Students coming from outside the country face difficulty in dealing with the
new environment. They suffer from anxiety and stress in order to adapt to the new
environment. Hence needs strategies to overcome the issue. In this article, the experience of
international students and the styles of adaption used by them in order to adept to the new
environment is discussed. In the journal. Total 979 students of Melbourne University are
investigated. By using the person focused approach, it is evaluated that whether the different
ways of adaption and well-being could be separated or not.

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From the article, using the person focused approach, different patterns were
observed such as, 58.8% were connected and positive, 34.4% were stressed and unconnected,
and 6.7% were risk taking and distressed. Based on the result student who were stressed and
risk-taking were identified. With the help of the result, the universities will be provided with
pertinent knowledge for appropriate international student support.
The article is relevant as a large number of international students were
examined. To increase the efficiency of the result, person focused approach is used and
cluster analysis is used to measure the result. The results is also analysed in different pattern
which helps in getting accuracy. The result obtained is relevant to the current scenario of the
international students.

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Reference
Forbes-Mewett, H. and Sawyer, A.M., 2016. International students and mental health. Journal
of International Students, 6(3), pp.661-677.
Mesidor, J.K. and Sly, K.F., 2016. Factors That Contribute to the Adjustment of International
Students. Journal of International Students, 6(1), pp.262-282.
Russell, J., Rosenthal, D. and Thomson, G., 2010. The international student experience:
Three styles of adaptation. Higher education, 60(2), pp.235-249.