ERIC Number: EJ786904
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Oct
Pages: 12
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0303-8300
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Available Date: N/A
Social Connectedness among International Students at an Australian University
Rosenthal, Doreen Anne; Russell, Jean; Thomson, Garry
Social Indicators Research, v84 n1 p71-82 Oct 2007
A representative sample of undergraduate and postgraduate international students at a large Australian university (n = 979, 64% females) completed a mail-back survey examining their perceptions of social connectedness. Four aspects of social connectedness were investigated: (1) connectedness in Melbourne, (2) social mixing and interaction with co-culturals and Australians, (3) involvement in organisations, associations and groups, and (4) connections to home and family. The majority of students report being well-connected to others in Melbourne, although some desire increased personal support from people who know and care about them. Connectedness in Melbourne is related to students' cultural background and communication skills in the new culture and their evaluation of their perceived academic progress. Students from Asian countries reveal different patterns to other students, especially in the relationships between connectedness and interactions with co-culturals. Awareness of these and other differences among international students from varying cultural backgrounds can help target assistance in achieving a sense of well-being.
Descriptors: Foreign Students, Academic Achievement, Foreign Countries, Communication Skills, Cultural Background, Social Integration, Undergraduate Students, Surveys, Well Being
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
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Author Affiliations: N/A