Prevalence of mental health problems among stranded international students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread fast throughout China and the rest of the world, prompting the World Health Organization to declare a worldwide pandemic on March 11, 2020. Many countries have implemented travel bans, lockdowns, and stay-at-home policies to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of mental health problems among international students stranded outside of China during the pandemic. Methods A qualitative study was conducted among non-Chinese international students enrolled at Chinese universities who were stranded in their home countries. The participants were recruited using a purposive sampling technique. Following informed consent, in-depth interviews were conducted with the help of a semi-structured guide. Two independent investigators transcribed and coded the interview data. The investigators established themes after going through a detailed discussion. Results Participants reported several mental health risk factors, such as a rise in hopelessness and level of uncertainty, worry, lost interest and focus, lack of support, unemployment and financial hardships, social pressure, behavioral and mood changes, sleep disorder, and increased smoking. These mental health problems will affect the concentration and deep learning, thereby increasing academic stress. In addition, we found that the outbreak of the delta-variant led to a further increase in these mental health risk factors. Conclusions The pandemic scenario, along with international travel restrictions, increased the likelihood of mental health problems among stranded international students. Thus, preventing further rises in mental health disorders and reducing the effects of pandemic-related measures on stranded international students, such as researchers and policymakers can mitigate the pandemic's effects and achieve national or international health and educational goals. Adequate intervention for this group is strongly recommended.

Design and effectiveness of an online group logotherapy intervention on the mental health of Iranian international students in European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Notably, the prevalence of mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, among this demographic has been a significant concern. Studies such as those by Iftikhar et al ( 8 ) and Kim and Choi ( 42 ) shed light on the prevalence of mental health problems, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Additionally, factors exacerbating mental health issues among international students have been identified.…”

“…Critical Mental Health Status of the International Students – The comprehensive review of the literature on the mental health of international students since the beginning of the COVID-9 pandemic, when the current project was started, was corroborated by an important number of emerging studies that put efforts to provide scientific evidence of their critical status. As summarized, various aspects of the mental health of international students during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported worldwide ( 8 , 9 , 53 ) (more recorded in Tables 1B,C ).…”

International and domestic university students’ mental health over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: Comparison between 2020, 2021, and 2022

“…The results indicate that negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were present in both groups of students, but in different ways: while domestic students had their mental health and social and emotional aspects worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, international students presented a poorer mental health status overall. It indicates that mental health care should address both groups, with special attention on international students, taking into consideration the specificities they may present [ 28 ].…”

“…Concerns about visa status and consequent disruption of studies were reported by international students in the US [42]. A qualitative study conducted in China indicated hopelessness, uncertainty, worry, lack of interest and focus, lack of support, financial difficulties, social pressure, sleep disorders, and increased smoking among international students [28]. Therefore, visa and financial issues, language skills, acculturation problems, poor social support systems, cultural and social adjustment, academic adaptation, homesickness, and lack of knowledge about the healthcare system are some examples of the challenges faced by international students in particular [17,[43][44][45][46].…”

Does media content have an impact on help-seeking behaviors for mental illness? A systematic review

“…People who experience mental illness can experience a range of issues, including low mood (Ibrahim et al , 2020), difficulties with concentration (Iftikhar et al , 2022), impaired functioning (Lambert et al , 2020) and suicidal ideation (Saab et al , 2022). Once people engage with mental health services and access appropriate treatments, they can often see improvements in their overall mental health (Puffer et al , 2020; Malins et al , 2021) and are more likely to be provided with the education, resources and support they need to help maintain their well-being and reduce the risk of relapse (Coiro et al , 2017; Nolan and Petrakis, 2019).…”