Elucidating Links Between Discrimination and Mental Health for International Students
Xiong, Y., Parasath, P. R., Zhang, Q., & Jeon, L. (2024). International students’ perceived discrimination and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of American College Health, 72(3), 869-880.
Introduction
Even before the pandemic, international students exhibited higher rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns than their domestic peers. The pandemic amplified these issues, with international students experiencing additional stressors such as uncertain immigration policies, financial hardship, and social isolation (Chen et al., 2020). Furthermore, the pandemic fueled anti-Asian sentiment, leading to a rise in hate crimes and discrimination. Given the well-documented impact of discrimination on mental health, Xiong and colleagues (2024) examine how perceived discrimination influenced international students’ psychological distress during COVID-19.
Methods
The study utilized a sample of 188 international students from two major U.S. universities. Participants completed self-reported measures assessing perceived discrimination, psychological distress, and COVID-related anxiety. The researchers examined group differences and conducted a path analysis to explore whether COVID-related anxiety mediated the relationship between perceived discrimination and psychological distress.
Results
Findings revealed that perceived discrimination was significantly associated with higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. COVID-related anxiety emerged as a key mediating factor, suggesting that students who faced discrimination experienced heightened COVID-related fears, which in turn exacerbated their psychological distress. Notably, males reported greater experiences of discrimination than females, and undergraduate students perceived more discrimination than their graduate counterparts. Contrary to expectations, East Asian students reported lower perceived discrimination than other international students, potentially reflecting cultural norms around reporting bias or the influence of broader social movements against anti-Asian hate.
Discussion
These findings reinforce the need for universities to adopt proactive mental health strategies tailored to international students, as well as methods to address discrimination. Universities should invest in culturally competent counseling services, expand outreach efforts, and create safe spaces where international students can discuss their experiences without fear of stigma.
Implications for Mentoring Programs
Mentoring programs can play a crucial role in supporting international students by providing emotional support, guidance on navigating academic and social systems, and advocacy against discrimination. Trainings and ongoing supervision for mentors that focuses on understanding the unique context experienced by international students, will be important to ensuring mentoring program effectiveness. Given the findings of this study, mentoring initiatives should incorporate discussions on cultural adjustment, coping strategies for stress and anxiety, and resources for seeking mental health support.
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