ERIC Number: EJ785305
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Jan
Pages: 17
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0018-1560
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Health and Wellbeing of International Students at an Australian University
Rosenthal, Doreen Anne; Russell, Jean; Thomson, Garry
Higher Education: The International Journal of Higher Education and Educational Planning, v55 n1 p51-67 Jan 2008
A representative sample of undergraduate and postgraduate international students at a large Australian university (n=979, 64% females) completed a mail-back survey of their health and wellbeing. Most students evaluated their current and previous physical and mental health positively. Health-related risk practices such as unprotected sexual activity, drug use, smoking and gambling, were reported by few students. There was little change in health or risk behaviours since coming to Australia and few changes that were health compromising. Few demographic or situational variables, including age and gender, had a significant impact on students' wellbeing. This study has revealed that few international students find the experience of studying in an overseas country detrimental to their wellbeing. Nevertheless, for those students who encounter difficulties or are at increased risk of health-compromising outcomes, we must ensure better delivery of health promotion education, and access to, and use of, available counselling and health services.
Descriptors: Foreign Students, Health Services, Health Promotion, Drug Use, Foreign Countries, Sexuality, Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, Surveys, Well Being, Mental Health, Risk, Smoking, Health Behavior
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A