Life in a Foreign Country: Health and Wellbeing of International Students in an Australian Tertiary Context

The rapid growth of international students in recent years has attracted enormous research interest from different disciplines. Due to the transition to an unfamiliar environment, most international students have experienced various degrees of physical and psychological adjustments. How to help these students maintain a good state of health and improve their psychological wellbeing has become a very important issue worthy to be studied. The findings indicate that academic issues, basic living conditions, financial worries, social contact and racial discrimination are factors significantly influencing international students? physical health as well as their psychological and social wellbeing in the new environment. Demographic variables including age, gender, length of stay in Tasmania and English proficiency are also influential factors. There are eight coping strategies frequently used by the students. Family, friends, university and community are identified as four main sources of support. Lastly, this study also provides some recommendations for enhancing international students? health and wellbeing in their acculturation into a new social and cultural context.