چکیده:
In comparison with similar age groups in the general population, students who are
studying in universities are more at risk of having mental health problems.
Surprisingly, several studies reveal that international students are highly affected
by mental health issues than their local counterparts. Seemingly, it is more related
to their decision to study overseas that might present them several challenges,
including mental health issues. Malaysian universities host a substantial number of
international students but the issue of international students’ mental health lack
substantial attention there. The current research applying a mixed method, aims to
address the mental health issues of newly registered international students at
Universiti Sains Malaysia. In-depth discussion on the study findings’ implications
for practice, policy, and research for social work profession will be addressed in this
research paper.
خلاصه ماشینی:
The current research applying a mixed method, aims to address the mental health issues of newly registered international students at Universiti Sains Malaysia.
In addition, some studies related to international students’ problem showed that they face some kind of mental health issues more than other students (Alavi & Mansor, 2011; Altbach, 1991; Khosravi, Azman, Mustafa Ayasreh, & Khosravi, 2018).
Several studies pointed that entering an unfamiliar environment and adjusting to a new environment needs changes that might lead to being worry, confused, depressed, and subsequently facing with mental health issues (Choi, 1997; Lee, Koeske, and Sales, 2004; Lin & Yi, 1997; Oh, Koeske, & Sales, 2002; Ozer, 2015; Sümer, Poyrazli,& Grahame, 2008).
The current study therefore aims to cover this issue by focusing on the prevalence of mental health problem among international students at USM.
The GHQ has been extensively used in different studies around the world (Ebrahimi, Afshar, Doost, Mousavi, & Moolavi, 2012; Goldberg, Lehman, & Rollins, 2003; Jackson, 2007; Maniam, 1996; Quek, Low, Razack, & Loh, 2001) to assess the mental health status particularly in finding the emotional disorders such as distress.
Due to lack of researches on mental health issues among international students, it is not possible to compare the finding of this study with the others.
Time management seminars, counseling services and healthy co-curricular activities can well be implemented in the university to help new international students reduce their mental health issues.
Social support buffering of acculturative stress: A study of mental health symptoms among Korean international students.