Navigating academic expectations and social integration: a moderated mediation analysis of cultural adaptation, peer support, and well-being among Chinese international students.

ABSTRACT: International students often encounter significant academic and cultural challenges that can adversely affect their psychological well-being. This study examines the association between academic expectations and well-being of Chinese international students, with cultural adaptation and social integration modeled as parallel mediators, and peer support as a moderator. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 456 Chinese international students enrolled in universities. The findings reveal that academic expectations have a direct negative effect on student well-being and also exert significant indirect effects through both cultural adaptation and social integration. Moreover, peer support moderates the negative relationship between academic expectations and both mediators, thereby reducin

SUBMITTER: Xu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12679276 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature