Analysis of International Students' Mental Health by Length of Stay
The query results shed light on the mental health dynamics among international students at a Japanese university, focusing on the influence of their length of stay on various mental health indicators. Here's a breakdown of the findings:
- Number of International Students: The data shows the distribution of international students across different lengths of stay.
- Average Scores: The average scores for depression (PHQ-9 test), social connectedness (SCS test), and acculturative stress (ASISS test) are provided for each group categorized by length of stay.
Does going to university in a different country affect your mental health? A Japanese international university surveyed its students in 2018 and published a study the following year that was approved by several ethical and regulatory boards.
The study found that international students have a higher risk of mental health difficulties than the general population, and that social connectedness (belonging to a social group) and acculturative stress (stress associated with joining a new culture) are predictive of depression.
Explore the students data using PostgreSQL to find out if you would come to a similar conclusion for international students and see if the length of stay is a contributing factor.
Here is a data description of the columns you may find helpful.
| Field Name | Description |
|---|---|
inter_dom | Types of students (international or domestic) |
japanese_cate | Japanese language proficiency |
english_cate | English language proficiency |
academic | Current academic level (undergraduate or graduate) |
age | Current age of student |
stay | Current length of stay in years |
todep | Total score of depression (PHQ-9 test) |
tosc | Total score of social connectedness (SCS test) |
toas | Total score of acculturative stress (ASISS test) |
-- Run this code to view the data in students
SELECT *
FROM students;-- Find the number of international students and their average scores
SELECT stay,
COUNT(*) AS count_int,
ROUND(AVG(todep), 2) AS average_phq,
ROUND(AVG(tosc), 2) AS average_scs,
ROUND(AVG(toas), 2) AS average_as
FROM students
WHERE inter_dom = 'Inter'
GROUP BY stay
ORDER BY stay DESC;
Key Observations:
- Depression Scores: As the length of stay increases, there is a noticeable decrease in the average depression scores among international students. This trend suggests a potential adaptation or coping mechanism over time.
- Social Connectedness: Interestingly, there is a fluctuation in the average scores for social connectedness. While the scores are relatively higher for shorter stays, they decrease for intermediate stays before rising again for longer stays. This pattern may reflect evolving social integration dynamics over time.
- Acculturative Stress: The average scores for acculturative stress display a similar trend to depression scores, decreasing as the length of stay increases. This indicates a potential adjustment to the new cultural environment over time.
Implications
These findings suggest that while international students initially experience higher levels of mental health difficulties, particularly in terms of depression and acculturative stress, there is a gradual improvement with prolonged exposure to the host country's environment. However, the fluctuating trend in social connectedness warrants further investigation into the factors influencing social integration and support mechanisms among international students.
Conclusion
Understanding the mental health dynamics of international students is crucial for designing effective support systems and interventions. The data highlights the importance of providing targeted assistance, especially during the early stages of students' transition to a new cultural and academic environment. Further research and initiatives aimed at enhancing social integration and reducing acculturative stress could significantly contribute to the well-being and academic success of international students.