Aug 2026· Journal of International Students· 0 citations· 52 references
Abstract
International students face elevated mental health risks linked to acculturative stress, academic pressure, sociocultural adjustment, and structural barriers in higher education. Although these challenges are recognized, less attention has been given to how universities design and deliver support for this population. This study used a descriptive phenomenological design to examine perspectives on international graduate students’ mental health across Arizona universities. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with counseling professionals and international student services staff at Northern Arizona University, with perspectives from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings showed that students’ mental health challenges were cumulative and linked to cultural, academic, and social transitions. Cultural beliefs shaped help-seeking, with stigma, self-reliance, and fear of burdening others contributing to delayed use of formal services. Participants also described services as uneven in accessibility and cultural responsiveness, while staff often served as gatekeepers to care
Background: Mental health is an increasing topic of concern among medical students worldwide. International medical students may face additional stressors related to academic pressure, cultural adjustment, language barriers, and social isolation. Despite Georgia's rapidly growing international student population, limit...
A. Gagnidze, Namaa Hassan· Georgian Medical Journal· 0 citations
This qualitative phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of international mental health counseling master’s students with marginalized identities in the United States, using an intersectionality framework to illuminate the challenges they face and advocate for systemic change. Despite their growing presen...
Nouna Jalilzadeh· Journal of International Stu...· 0 citations
This study examines the role of social media in the adaptation and acculturation experiences of African graduate students in the United States. While research on international students has focused on academic, cultural, and social challenges, limited attention has been given to how digital platforms shape everyday adju...
Diane Ezeh Aruah, Obianuju Aliche· Journal of International Stu...· 0 citations
Despite growing recognition of mental health challenges among university students globally, male students in Sub-Saharan Africa disproportionately remain outside the reach of formal mental health services. This study explored the factors that shape individual-level access to mental health services among male students i...
Daphne Lweendo Mweene, Musenge Makashi, Mwanza Nicholas et al.· Discover Public Health· 0 citations
In higher education, there is growing recognition that mental health support should be responsive to students’ lived experiences, educational contexts, and disciplinary norms. For instance, engineering students report high levels of distress and underutilize professional mental health services when compared to students...
Joshua T. Parrott, Joseph H. Hammer, Elahe Vahidi et al.· Education sciences· 0 citations
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