Home away from home: international students' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of US higher education
Introduction This study focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international students' overall experiences. Method We interviewed 22 international students from 11 countries and 17 universities in the US who participated in a large longitudinal study that aims to understand the physi...
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Published in | Frontiers in psychology Vol. 14; p. 1104200 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Frontiers Media S.A
12.09.2023
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Introduction
This study focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international students' overall experiences.
Method
We interviewed 22 international students from 11 countries and 17 universities in the US who participated in a large longitudinal study that aims to understand the physical and emotional wellbeing of young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by Bronfenbrenner's ecological model, the findings suggested that students were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic at interpersonal, institutional, political, and personal levels.
Results
The results showed that the pandemic exacerbated existing stressors such as the lack of social support from family, various visa regulations, competitive and limited job opportunities, discrimination and xenophobia, particularly toward students from Asia, and financial burdens. Additionally, the findings highlighted students' perceived loss of the “American dream” and the uneven return on investment due to the pandemic.
Discussion
This study reveals the importance of US higher education institutions in supporting international students during the pandemic, particularly in terms of their sense of belonging. Recommendations for institutions drawn from the findings are proposed to better support international students during times of COVID-19 and beyond. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Edited by: Douglas F. Kauffman, Medical University of the Americas–Nevis, United States Reviewed by: Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, Indiana University Bloomington, United States; Mustafa Şeker, Yıldız Technical University, Türkiye |
ISSN: | 1664-1078 1664-1078 |
DOI: | 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1104200 |