Strengthening University Student Wellbeing: Language and Perceptions of Chinese International Students

Lanxi Huang, Margaret L. Kern and Lindsay G. Oades
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Lanxi Huang: Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
Margaret L. Kern: Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
Lindsay G. Oades: Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-18

Abstract: Students at the tertiary education level in Australia are at increased risk of experiencing high levels of psychological distress, with international students at particularly high risk for poor adjustment. As mental health and wellbeing strongly correlate with students’ academic performance and general overseas experience, a growing number of studies focus on what universities can do to effectively support students’ wellbeing. However, assumptions are made about what wellbeing is, strategies primarily focus on treating mental ill-health, and treatment approaches fail to account for cultural differences. This study aimed to explore how Chinese international students understand wellbeing, the language used about and for wellbeing, and activities that students believe strengthen their own and others’ wellbeing. Eighty-four Chinese international students completed the online survey, and a subset of 30 students participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using thematic, phenomenographic, and language analyses. Physical health and mental health appeared as the key components that participants believed defined wellbeing, and intrapersonal activities were perceived as the primary approach used to strengthen wellbeing. Findings help broaden the understanding of wellbeing concept from the population of tertiary students, identify students’ perspectives of activities that strengthen their wellbeing, offer a snapshot of the language used by Chinese students around wellbeing, and provide new data of population health through a wellbeing lens.

Keywords: wellbeing; lay perspectives; language; Chinese international students; tertiary education; mental health; wellbeing literacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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