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Do predictors of mental health differ between home and international students studying in the UK?

Catrin Pedder Jones (Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK)
Annemarie Lodder (Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK)
Chris Papadopoulos (Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, UK)

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education

ISSN: 2050-7003

Article publication date: 4 February 2019

Issue publication date: 5 April 2019

732

Abstract

Purpose

Previous research has found that international students can experience poor mental health, low levels of life satisfaction, self-esteem and high levels of loneliness when studying in a foreign country. No study has directly compared these between international and home students studying in the UK. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 247 students completed an online survey at the University of Bedfordshire.

Findings

The hypothesis that international students experience higher loneliness, lower self-esteem, lower life satisfaction and poorer general mental health than home students was rejected. Home students had significantly lower self-esteem, life satisfaction and general mental health scores. Black ethnicity and home student status significantly predicted general mental health and self-esteem in regression analyses. The predictive utility of home student status was maintained when other variables were controlled for in regression models.

Originality/value

This research suggests that the UK universities should ensure that both home and international students are adequately supported for their mental health.

Keywords

Citation

Jones, C.P., Lodder, A. and Papadopoulos, C. (2019), "Do predictors of mental health differ between home and international students studying in the UK?", Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 224-234. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-03-2018-0040

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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