Impact of Stressors and Resilience on Depression and Psychological Wellbeing of Asian International Students
Open Access
- Author:
- Kim, So Rin
- Graduate Program:
- Counselor Education
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- July 07, 2020
- Committee Members:
- Carlos P Zalaquett, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Carlos P Zalaquett, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Jolynn Carney, Committee Member
Amber M O'Shea, Committee Member
Jose Angel Soto, Outside Member
David Lee, Program Head/Chair - Keywords:
- Asian international student
Resilience
stressor
psychological wellbeing
depression - Abstract:
- The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of stressors (i.e., academic pressure, language difficulty, cultural adjustment, concerns about finance, and interpersonal stress) and mental health outcomes (i.e., psychological wellbeing and depression) in Asian international students. The study also examined the moderating effects of resilience elements (i.e., individual assets, resources) between stressors and mental health outcomes of the students. The sample included in the current study was 197 Asian international students with student visas (e.g., F-1, J-1), enrolled in higher education institutions in the US. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA, and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses. The results demonstrated a significant positive association between stressors (academic pressure, concerns about finance, and interpersonal stress) and depression, and a significant negative association between stressors (academic pressure, language difficulty, cultural adjustment, and interpersonal stress) and psychological wellbeing. The results did not support the moderating effects of resilience (i.e., individual assets, resources) between stressors and mental health outcomes. A discussion of these results; implications for counselors, counselor educators, and higher education professionals; limitations and strengths of the study; and recommendations for future research are provided.