Exploring Stress among International College Students in China

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Morake, Omogolo Omaatla, Xue, Mengru
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Morake, Omogolo Omaatla
Xue, Mengru
author_facet Morake, Omogolo Omaatla
Xue, Mengru
contents Psychological stress encompasses emotional tension and pressure experienced by people, which usually arises from situations people find challenging. However, more is needed to know about the pressures faced by international college students studying in China. The goal of this study is to investigate the various stressors that international college students in China face and how they cope with stress (coping mechanisms). Twenty international students were interviewed to gather data, which was then transcribed. Thematic analysis and coding were applied to the qualitative data, revealing themes related to the causes of stress. The following themes emerge from this data: anticipatory anxiety or future stress, social and cultural challenges, financial strain, and academic pressure. These themes will help understand the various stressors international college students in China face and how they try to cope. Studying how international college students in China cope with challenges can guide the development of targeted interventions to support their mental health. Research suggests that integrating aesthetics and connectivity into design interventions can notably improve the well-being of these students. This paper presents possible future design solutions, leveraging the aesthetics of connectivity to empower students and enhance their resilience. Additionally, it aims to provide valuable insights for designers interested in creating solutions that alleviate stress and promote emotional awareness among international students.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_14139
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Exploring Stress among International College Students in China
Morake, Omogolo Omaatla
Xue, Mengru
Human-Computer Interaction
Psychological stress encompasses emotional tension and pressure experienced by people, which usually arises from situations people find challenging. However, more is needed to know about the pressures faced by international college students studying in China. The goal of this study is to investigate the various stressors that international college students in China face and how they cope with stress (coping mechanisms). Twenty international students were interviewed to gather data, which was then transcribed. Thematic analysis and coding were applied to the qualitative data, revealing themes related to the causes of stress. The following themes emerge from this data: anticipatory anxiety or future stress, social and cultural challenges, financial strain, and academic pressure. These themes will help understand the various stressors international college students in China face and how they try to cope. Studying how international college students in China cope with challenges can guide the development of targeted interventions to support their mental health. Research suggests that integrating aesthetics and connectivity into design interventions can notably improve the well-being of these students. This paper presents possible future design solutions, leveraging the aesthetics of connectivity to empower students and enhance their resilience. Additionally, it aims to provide valuable insights for designers interested in creating solutions that alleviate stress and promote emotional awareness among international students.
title Exploring Stress among International College Students in China
topic Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.14139