Academic and social pressures feature in Chinese international students' mental health
A review across host countries describes interconnected academic, family and social factors, with discrimination and isolation featuring prominently during the pandemic.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Academic difficulties, language proficiency, family expectations and social relationships all featured in the mental health of Chinese international students. The review also links pandemic-era discrimination and isolation with poorer mental health. These findings describe interconnected associations; they do not show that changing any single factor would necessarily improve an individual student's mental health.
The abstract provides no pooled effect sizes, country-specific estimates or detailed study-quality results. This abstract-based account cannot establish which factors matter most for a particular student or setting.
Pressures overlap
Researchers brought together quantitative and qualitative findings in a narrative synthesis. Academic pressures stood out, with family expectations and cultural values woven into students' experiences. Language proficiency and social support also featured among the associated factors.
The pandemic context
During the pandemic, discrimination and social isolation were linked with poorer mental health. Greater satisfaction with online learning was linked with better mental health, showing that different aspects of the student experience had different associations.
The original publication
Factors associated with mental health of Chinese international students in the global context: a systematic review.
Zuo P, Ramamurthy C, Gowing A et al.
BMC Public Health · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41074055
- Record checked
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