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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
The acculturation experiences of Chinese international tertiary students in Australia: a qualitative study
Current Psychology, Vol.45(4), pp.1-16
2026
Abstract
International tertiary students face many challenges and stressors when studying abroad. Past research reports that Asian international students experience acculturative stress due to language barriers, lack of social connections with locals, and discrimination, which may contribute to poor mental health. The aim of this study was to gather firsthand personal experiences of Chinese international tertiary students studying abroad in Australia. Using open-ended survey questions, this study explored Chinese international students’ acculturation challenges in Australia and the strategies employed to navigate these challenges. Chinese international students studying at universities across Australia were recruited. Qualitative data from 129 Chinese international students (M = 23.2, SD = 2.5) were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five main themes were identified with regard to acculturation challenges and coping strategies: ‘language barriers’, ‘social engagement’, ‘dietary changes’, ‘sports and fitness in acculturation’, and ‘mental health support’. The results suggested that Chinese international students may benefit from interventions that promote social connections, local language competency and mental health literacy to ensure a smoother transition in Australia. Participants also highlighted the need for mental health services to be culturally safe and inviting and clearly promoted as free and accessible. Future research should integrate learnings from Chinese students’ detailed accounts with longitudinal surveys to gain a more comprehensive picture of the conditions that promote positive academic and mental health outcomes.
Details
- Title
- The acculturation experiences of Chinese international tertiary students in Australia: a qualitative study
- Authors
- Weiyang Xiong (Corresponding Author) - Flinders UniversityMatt Thompson - Flinders UniversityDaniel B. Fassnacht - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyKathina Ali - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - PsychologyYufang Zhao - Southwest UniversityMike Kyrios - Flinders UniversityDaniel L. King - Flinders University
- Publication details
- Current Psychology, Vol.45(4), pp.1-16
- Publisher
- Springer New York LLC
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1007/s12144-025-08742-7
- ISSN
- 1936-4733; 1046-1310
- Copyright note
- This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
- Data Availability
- The datasets generated or analysed during the current study are available upon request.
- Grants
- Measuring wellbeing and mental health of Chinese international students: A longitudinal study, 0980028423, Australia Education Management Group
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Psychology
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991201542202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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