Stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic in international students: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated mental health problems worldwide; however, research on the stressors experienced by international students during the COVID-19 pandemic remains limited.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 international students (male, 8; female, 12; average age, 31.5 years) at Hiroshima University, Japan. Inductive thematic analysis was performed using NVivo software to identify how international students (1) perceived and experienced stress and (2) describe the specific stressors they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

The findings revealed that international students experienced multiple stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic, including extrapersonal (e.g., financial pressure)

SUBMITTER: Ma J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11951657 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature