Publication Date
9-1-2024
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
21
Issue
9
DOI
10.3390/ijerph21091232
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to understand how the challenges and coping strategies among international students in the United States changed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a qualitative study through one-on-one in-depth interviews during April–June 2021. A total of 34 international students in the San Francisco Bay Area participated in this study. NVivo was used to analyze the qualitative data. Before COVID-19, the challenges were primarily related to a sense of belonging, such as culture shock, language barriers, and loss of identity. However, some positive experiences from school life and new culture were also found before COVID-19. During the pandemic, students faced difficulties with online learning and lockdown protocols that they had never experienced before. The ongoing challenges before and during COVID-19 were identity crisis, racism and discrimination, and financial struggles. Common coping strategies for overcoming these difficulties included engaging in physical activity, social exposure, self-improvement, and mental self-care. The frequency of online engagement and motivation for self-improvement were particularly highlighted during COVID-19. However, international students expressed a preference for improved support systems, including financial aid, paid research opportunities, and more accessible campus resources. Future research could focus on the strategies to support the psychological well-being of international students in coping with unexpected situations, such as disease outbreaks.
Keywords
coping, COVID-19, in-depth interview, international student, mental health, qualitative study
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Public Health and Recreation
Recommended Citation
Chulwoo Park, Shannon Shimada, Airi Irene Trisnadi, and Patricia Angelica. "Changes in Psychological Challenges, Positive Experiences, and Coping Strategies among International Students in the United States before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091232
