The Overseas Student: Expatriate, Sojourner or Settler?

Abstract

The Overseas Student can be regarded as a sojourner who lives temporarily in a foreign country and must achieve satisfactory academic objectives within a limited period of time. The “push” and “pull” factors which determine why students study overseas are described. Suggestions are made about the optimum training of mental health professionals and university welfare personnel to enable them to assist overseas students who are distressed. The similarities and differences between a student soourner and an expatriate are described. There is a need for studies to establish the reasons why expatriates return before the completion of their work contract.

HIV and sexual health knowledge and sexual experience among Australian-born and overseas-born students in Sydney

“…Studying abroad is not only a change of social, cultural, and political environment; for many overseas students it is also a major lifestyle change. They are away from the supports that they would normally receive at home, and experience various difficulties such as language, finance and social alienation, and pressure to achieve satisfactory academic objectives within a limited period of time [17,18]. International students have been reported as experiencing a significantly higher level of "homesickness" than local students [19] and are more likely to be diagnosed with psychological distress or clinical depression [20,21].…”

Psychiatric Morbidity of Foreign Students in Yugoslavia: a 25 Year Retrospective Analysis

“…climate or language), and those that could be avoided (eg. ethnocentricism or loneliness) (Anumonye, 1967;Cox, 1988). It has been well documented that poor adjustment to new living conditions is often accompanied by psychological disturbance and increased incidence of psychiatric morbidity (Lambo, 1960;Zwingmann & Pfister-Ammende, 1973;1 Hitch & Rack, 1980;Rack, 1988).…”

Child soldiers: understanding the context

“…The use of push-pull categorisation has been used recently in relation to child labour by the International Labour Organization (see www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/ipec/child/2tour.htm) and more specifically child soldiers (see http://www.child-soldiers.org/conferences/confreport_asiawgc.html). 2…”