Utilization of counseling services by international students.This study examined the utilization of counseling services by international students at a major university in Texas. Five hundred and sixteen international students visited the university counseling center during the academic years of 1992 and 1998. Their demographic characteristics, referral resources, types of services sought, as well as their self-reported presenting concerns, were examined. Those students who used the counseling center for career counseling Noun 1. career counseling - counseling on career opportunities counseling, counselling, guidance, counsel, direction - something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action were more likely to be younger, female, and of undergraduate status. Those students who used the counseling center for personal problems were more likely to be older, male, and graduate students. "Academics/Grades," "Anxiety," and "Depression" were the top three concerns for undergraduate students while "Depression," "Time Management," and "Relationship with Romantic Partner" were the top three "extremely worried" concerns for graduate students. Culturally responsive programming, implications for counseling, limitations of this study, and suggestions tot future study are discussed. ********** Between the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 academic years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time number of international students attending colleges and universities in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. increased by 6.4% to a record total of 547,867 (Institute for International Education, 2002). The Open Doors Report on International Exchange published by the Higher Education higher education Study beyond the level of secondary education. Institutions of higher education include not only colleges and universities but also professional schools in such fields as law, theology, medicine, business, music, and art. Resources Group, a division of the Institute of International Education, provides annual statistical data on students coming to the United States, as well as U.S. students studying abroad. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. this report, the 6.4% increase in international enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities is the largest increase in the past twenty years TWENTY YEARS. The lapse of twenty years raises a presumption of certain facts, and after such a time, the party against whom the presumption has been raised, will be required to prove a negative to establish his rights. 2. . While the impact of the September September: see month. 11 tragedy on international exchange is yet to be empirically examined, the expectation is that the number of international students in the U.S. will continue to increase in the future (Lin Lin , Maya Ying Born 1959. American sculptor and architect whose public works include the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. (1982). Noun 1. & Yi, 1997; Mori, 2000; Sandhu Sandhu is the third most well known Jatt clan behind Narwal and Toor originally from the Northern Indian state of Punjab. It is considered to be one of the bravest and oldest Jatt tribes. & Asrabadi, 1994). University personnel and mental health professionals face the challenge of providing appropriate counseling services to this large and growing population. It is important to examine international students' unique experiences and concerns, including the impact of terrorism and anti-terror policies on these students. A better understanding of the issues of international students on the part of mental health professionals will foster an environment more conducive con·du·cive adj. Tending to cause or bring about; contributive: working conditions not conducive to productivity. See Synonyms at favorable. to direct interaction between students of different cultures. (Lin & Yi, 1997; Mori, 2000; Sandhu & Asrabadi, 1994). Over the years, many studies have examined international students' counseling concerns and needs. These concerns and needs can be broadly divided into five interrelated in·ter·re·late tr. & intr.v. in·ter·re·lat·ed, in·ter·re·lat·ing, in·ter·re·lates To place in or come into mutual relationship. in categories: academic, physical health, financial, vocational, and personal/social. Academically, international students straggle strag·gle intr.v. strag·gled, strag·gling, strag·gles 1. To stray or fall behind. 2. To proceed or spread out in a scattered or irregular group. n. with completing essay examinations, taking notes during lectures due to limited language proficiency Language proficiency or linguistic proficiency is the ability of an individual to speak or perform in an acquired language. As theories vary among pedagogues as to what constitutes proficiency[1], there is little consistency as to how different organisations (Deressa & Beavers, 1988; Parr, Bradley & Bingi, 1992), and the difficulties of studying effectively in a new educational system (Mau & Jepsen, 1990). Second, concerning physical health, many international students indicate that they have difficulty interacting with U.S. healthcare U.S. Healthcare is a now-defunct healthcare company. The logo had an apple. The merger with Aetna In 1996, the company merged with Aetna, calling it Aetna U.S. Healthcare. The U.S. Healthcare apple logo was next to the Aetna name, and U.S. Healthcare under it. U.S. providers due to language barriers or a lack of knowledge of the healthcare system (Prieto, 1995). Third, some international students face financial hardships during the years of their study due to immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. regulations that generally prohibit pro·hib·it tr.v. pro·hib·it·ed, pro·hib·it·ing, pro·hib·its 1. To forbid by authority: Smoking is prohibited in most theaters. See Synonyms at forbid. 2. international students from working off campus. (Mori, 2000) Fourth, international students' unique vocational concerns/needs are related to the geographic location of their future employment. Upon the completion of their studies, it is difficult for them to decide whether to seek employment in the U.S. or in their countries of origin (Wehrly, 1986). Lastly, the most commonly reported personal/social concerns of international students involve social isolation, loneliness, homesickness, irritability irritability /ir·ri·ta·bil·i·ty/ (ir?i-tah-bil´i-te) the quality of being irritable. myotatic irritability the ability of a muscle to contract in response to stretching. , and tiredness (Das See direct attached storage and FDDI. DAS - Digital Analog Simulator. Represents analog computer design. , Chow & Rutherford Rutherford (rŭth`ərfərd), borough (1990 pop. 17,790), Bergen co., NE N.J., a residential suburb of the New York City–N New Jersey metropolitan area; inc. 1881. Several pre-Revolutionary houses remain there. , 1986; Wehrly, 1986). For example, one study suggests that international students' psychological distress psychological distress The end result of factors–eg, psychogenic pain, internal conflicts, and external stress that prevent a person from self-actualization and connecting with 'significant others'. See Humanistic psychology. is related to a profound sense of loss, a sense of inferiority, a sense of uncertainty, communication problems, culture shock, and the loss of the social support systems they had in their countries of origin (Sandhu, 1995). Such concerns can lead to life-disrupting stress. Another area that previous studies have focused on is the help-seeking behaviors of international students. One study states that international and U.S. students frequently list parents, older friends, and student Mends mend v. mend·ed, mend·ing, mends v.tr. 1. To make repairs or restoration to; fix. 2. To reform or correct: mend one's ways. v.intr. as their ideal sources of help (Leong & Sedlacek, 1986). Although one of the potentially significant sources of support for international students is mental health professionals, research suggests that international students generally do not seek services from counseling centers on campus (Mau et al., 1990). For example, due to the stigma stigma: see pistil. Stigma mark of Cain God’s mark on Cain, a sign of his shame for fratricide. [O. T.: Genesis 4:15] scarlet letter of mental health, many students from Asian countries Noun 1. Asian country - any one of the nations occupying the Asian continent Asian nation country, land, state - the territory occupied by a nation; "he returned to the land of his birth"; "he visited several European countries" do not seek professional psycho logical help unless they have exhausted their support system. Thus, they are likely to be in subjective crisis when they do reach out to the counselors (Lin, 1996). Although previous studies provided useful insights into the needs, concerns and behaviors of international students, several aspects still remain unexamined. To better understand the complexity of their experiences and differences related to their country of origin, there is a need to focus on subgroup sub·group n. 1. A distinct group within a group; a subdivision of a group. 2. A subordinate group. 3. Mathematics A group that is a subset of a group. tr.v. differences among international students. In addition, although prior studies emphasized the need of university personnel and counselors to be proactive in providing emotional support for international students (Angelopoulos & Catano, 1993; Sandhu, 1995), few culturally appropriate policy suggestions for ways in which institutions can more actively encourage international students' use of mental health professionals have been published (Lin, 2000). The purpose of this study was to examine the utilization of counseling services by international students at a major university in Texas. We wish to understand who seeks counseling, how they go about doing so, and why they sought it. We examined the demographic characteristics and subgroup differences of the international students (who), their referral resources (how), types of services sought, and their self-reported concerns (why). Utilization is defined as "a help-seeking behavior in which the services of the mental health system are used" (Sue, Zane The name Zane is pronounced IPA: /zeɪn/ "zayn". Zane is a word that has its roots in both Arabic and Hebrew meaning "God is Gracious". It is a common name for both males and females in Arabic speaking countries. , & Young, 1994). This study examined several significant elements. First, we contribute to the limited knowledge about international students' utilization of counseling services by focusing on the international students' help-seeking behaviors. Secondly, a description of international students can provide useful background information for counselors to develop culturally-responsive programs that operate within the existing values of the target ethnocultural groups. Finally, our findings may serve as a basis for evaluating existing counseling programs and assisting the development and implementation of new programs to meet the needs of international students. Method This study examined the existing data of self-identified international students who visited the counseling center at a major university in Texas over a six-year period (1992-998). A total of 562 international students visited the counseling center during the six years. Included in this sample were 46 international students who came to the institution to attend language classes. Although counseling services were available for them, international students were not enrolled as regular admissions status students at this university. Hence, they were excluded from analysis. The international students were asked to complete questionnaires before their counseling appointments. The questionnaires were developed by the counseling center. Questionnaire items were designed to collect information on demographic factors, referral sources, reasons for seeking counseling, and self-reported problems and concerns. The SPSS A statistical package from SPSS, Inc., Chicago (www.spss.com) that runs on PCs, most mainframes and minis and is used extensively in marketing research. It provides over 50 statistical processes, including regression analysis, correlation and analysis of variance. statistical analysis system (version 10.0) was used to analyze the data. Tests of group differences were based on the Chi-square chi-square (ki´skwar) see under distribution and test. chi-square n. statistic statistic, n a value or number that describes a series of quantitative observations or measures; a value calculated from a sample. statistic a numerical value calculated from a number of observations in order to summarize them. for categorical That which is unqualified or unconditional. A categorical imperative is a rule, command, or moral obligation that is absolutely and universally binding. Categorical is also used to describe programs limited to or designed for certain classes of people. variables (e.g., gender, county of origin, living status, marital status marital status, n the legal standing of a person in regard to his or her marriage state. ) and on the t test and analysis of variance The discrepancy between what a party to a lawsuit alleges will be proved in pleadings and what the party actually proves at trial. In Zoning law, an official permit to use property in a manner that departs from the way in which other property in the same locality for continuous variables (.e.g., age, GPA GPA abbr. grade point average Noun 1. GPA - a measure of a student's academic achievement at a college or university; calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted ). Results Table 1 summarizes selected characteristics of the study participants. Asian students comprised over one-half (59%) of all international students who used the counseling center. They were followed by students from Central and South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. (24.1%), and Europe Europe (y  r`əp), 6th largest continent, c.4,000,000 sq mi (10,360,000 sq km) including adjacent islands (1992 est. pop. 512,000,000). (10.2%). Of the Asian countries, China was the leading place of origin
for international students (n=65), followed by India India, officially Republic of India, republic (2005 est pop. 1,080,264,000), 1,261,810 sq mi (3,268,090 sq km), S Asia. The second most populous country in the world, it is also sometimes called Bharat, its ancient name. India's land frontier (c. (n=54), Japan
(n=51), Taiwan Taiwan (tī`wän`), Portuguese Formosa, officially Republic of China, island nation (2005 est. pop. 22,894,000), 13,885 sq mi (35,961 sq km), in the Pacific Ocean, separated from the mainland of S China by the 100-mi-wide (161-km) Taiwan (n=27), and Korea Korea (kôrē`ə, kə–), Korean Hanguk or Choson, region and historic country (85,049 sq mi/220,277 sq km), E Asia. (n=21). More than one half (56.6%) of
the samples were undergraduate students. The mean GPA among students was
2.8, with the range being from 0.8 to 4.0. The mean age of the students
was 23.9 years old, with ages ranging from 17 to 53 years. In general,
undergraduate students were more likely to be younger and have a lower
GPA than graduate students. For example, the mean GPA (M=2.6, SD=0.62)
of the undergraduate students was significantly (p<0.01, t=-7.534)
lower than the mean GPA (M=3.1, SD=0.61) of the graduate students. As
expected, undergraduate students (M=20.0, SD=5.31) were significantly
(p<0.01, t=-10.865) younger than graduate students (M=28.4, SD=
6.751). Among all the participants, less than one-third (27.5%) of
students lived in on-campus on-campus adjective Referring to an on-site site of a medical complex with multiple buildings. Cf 'Off campus.'. housing. Those students living on campus
(M=3.0, SD= 0.76) had a significantly (p=0.005, t=-2.826) higher GPA
than those living off campus (M=2.7, SD=-0.62). Those students living on
campus (M=21.6, SD=8.1) were also significantly (p=0.03, t=2.243)
younger than those living off campus (M=24.6, SD=6.5).For the variable representing reasons for visit, respondents In the context of marketing research, a representative sample drawn from a larger population of people from whom information is collected and used to develop or confirm marketing strategy. were classified into three groups: "academic" (n=99; 22.0%), "career" (n=40; 8.9%), and "personal" (n=233; 51.8%). About 13% of students reported using counseling services for more than one reason. The results revealed that gender, age, and GPA were significantly related to reasons for visits. Of those who sought career counseling, more than one-half (62.5%) were female students. Those students who sought career counseling services were significantly (p=0.008, F=4.851) younger than those who needed academic counseling. For example, the mean age (M=21.3, SD=4.82) of the students seeking career counseling services was less than the mean age of those students seeking academic (M=23.3, SD=8.3) or personal (M=24.8, SD=7.0) counseling. There was a significant ([X.sup.2]=15.236, df (3), p=0.002)) difference between class and reasons for visit. Of those who sought career counseling, more than two-thirds (81.6%) were undergraduate students compare to less than one-fifth (18.4%) being graduate students. The mean GPA (M=2.7, SD=0.65) of the students seeking academic counseling services was lower than the mean GPA of those students seeking career (M=3.0, SD=0.60) or personal (M=3.0, SD=0.65) counseling. Of those who sought personal counseling, more than one-half (62.7%) were male students compared to 37.3% being female students. For the variable representing how students were referred to counseling services, respondents were classified into four groups: "Advisor/staff" (n=102; 22.1%), "Friends/ Relatives" (n=60; 13%), "Self" (n=266; 57.6%), and "Faculty" (n=25; 5.4%). The majority (57.6%) of students were self-referred to the counseling center. Only 17.8% of students heard about the counseling center from campus advertisements (e.g., flyers, the web). The mean GPA of international students who were referred by faculty/advisor/staff (M=2.7, SD=0.7) was lower than that of those referred by friends/ relatives (M=3.0, SD=0.7) or by self(M=3.1, SD=0.61). Undergraduate students were more likely to be referred by faculty/advisor/staff than graduate students. Nearly 70% of the undergraduate students reported that they were referred by faculty/advisor/staff compared to 32.4% of graduate students. In general, those students who used the counseling center for career counseling were more likely to be younger, female, and of undergraduate status. Those students who use d the counseling center for personal problems were more likely to be older, male, and graduate students. The relationships between referral sources and gender and age were not significant. There was no significant relationship between country of origin (Asia/ South and Central America/Other countries) and reasons for visit, referral sources, or how they heard about the counseling center. Table 2 summarizes the top ten problems students said they were "extremely worried" about. The table is divided into "All Students," "Undergraduate Students" and "Graduate Students." "Academics/ Course Work Grades" was the most common concern for both the undergraduate and graduate students. A majority (82%) reported that they were "extremely worried" or "worried" about their academic-related problems. "Academics/Grades," "Anxiety," and "Depression" were the top three concerns for undergraduate students while "Depression," "Time Management," and "Relationship with Romantic Partner" were the top three "extremely worried" concerns for graduate students. Combining the "extremely worried" and "worried" self-reported problems/issues, international students in this study reported that they were "extremely worried/worried" about "Anxiety/Fear/Nervousness" (82.7%), "Depression" (74.2%), "Self-esteem self-esteem Sense of personal worth and ability that is fundamental to an individual's identity. Family relationships during childhood are believed to play a crucial role in its development. " (70.1%), "Confusion about beliefs/values future life" (69.5%), and "Loneliness" (62.3%). "Academic/course work grades" was a "worry" of 82.0% of students. Nearly one half of students reported that they were "worried/extremely worried" about "Employment after graduation Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the associated ceremony. The date of event is often called degree day. The event itself is also called commencement, convocation or invocation. " (47.1%). Discussion The results of this study are consistent with the literature in areas of international students' concerns. "Academics/Course work grades," "depression," and "anxiety" were the major concerns of the international students in this study. Furthermore, undergraduate students worried about their academic grades more than graduate students. Literature suggested that English 1. English - (Obsolete) The source code for a program, which may be in any language, as opposed to the linkable or executable binary produced from it by a compiler. The idea behind the term is that to a real hacker, a program written in his favourite programming language is proficiencies could play an important role in the academic problems of international students. The graduate students tend to have higher English TOEFL TOEFL A trademark for a standardized examination for proficiency in English as a foreign language. scores than undergraduate students, and it is possible that undergraduate students have more difficulties with English than graduate students. While both groups (undergraduates and graduates) had relationship concerns such as breakup/loss of relationship, graduate international students were more likely to report relationship problems with their romantic partners. It should be noted that graduate students are more likely to be married and that their spouses are unable to work due to immigration regulation. Their spouses tended to stay at home with their younger children. While there is an increasing awareness of the needs of international students in counseling programs (Lin and Yi, 1997), more attention should be paid to programs for international students' spouses and families. We did not examine the causes of the students' expressed concerns and problems. However, one can speculate that reported concerns such as academic and relationship difficulties, confusion about the future, feelings of loneliness, and low self-esteem could contribute to anxiety and depression. Thus, it is important for academic and career counselors to assess each international student's overall functionality even though their initial presenting concerns may not be personal issues. For many international students, it might be more culturally acceptable to seek help in improving their grades or choosing an esteemed es·teem tr.v. es·teemed, es·teem·ing, es·teems 1. To regard with respect; prize. See Synonyms at appreciate. 2. To regard as; consider: esteemed it an honor to help them. career than to seek personal counseling for anxiety or depression. Nearly 70% of international students in the study reported that they were extremely worried or worried about their future lives. Future studies need to explore why they are confused about their future lives. For example, are they worried about where they should work? Are they having difficulties making career decisions because they must strike a balance between what they want to do and the expectations of their family? The study provided baseline The horizontal line to which the bottoms of lowercase characters (without descenders) are aligned. See typeface. baseline - released version information on the needs and concerns identified by international students. This information could address current gaps in the literature on providing culturally-specific proactive programming for international students. For example, stress management or time management workshops focusing on how to balance home life and school or how to have healthy relationships could be helpful. It will be important to educate international students about the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and how to overcome them. And counseling centers may also educate students on helpful resources and when and how to seek help. This study showed that more than half of the students were self-referred to the counseling center. Previously, it was believed that due to the stigma of mental problems, international students are not likely to refer themselves for psychological help (Lin, 1996). Although many of these students did use the personal counseling services, the personal counseling services in this institution offered a culturally specific psycho-educational group. In the year that this group was implemented, 46% of the international students who came to the counseling center attended that counseling group (Lin and Roberts, 1999). Thus, whether students would refer themselves to seek psychological help remains a research question. It is important to note that special efforts were made at this institution to help international students be more aware of the counseling services. For example, the counseling center hired a counselor who had expertise with international students to coordinate international student counseling programs and services. That counselor participated in various international student organization activities. In addition, the counselor served as a mentor Mentor, in Greek mythology Mentor (mĕn`tər, –tôr'), in Greek mythology, friend of Odysseus and tutor of Telemachus. to international students and an advisor to international student organizations. The counselor also served as a liaison to both the campus community and the local community of the international students. Reaching out to the community may have increased the students' awareness of the counseling services and may have also helped to build up the credibility of the counseling center (Lin, 2000). Future studies should examine how many international students self-refer for personal counseling at a university that does not offer culturally responsive outreach Outreach is an effort by an organization or group to connect its ideas or practices to the efforts of other organizations, groups, specific audiences or the general public. or programs. There is a lack of literature offering concrete ways for institutions to increase utilization of counseling centers by international students. Although many researchers point to the need for university personnel and counselors to be proactive in providing emotional support for international students (Angelopoulos & Catano, 1993), little has been published on specific ways institutions can actively encourage international students to utilize university counseling centers. This study suggests the need to devise effective marketing strategies for counseling center services. The findings from this study show the need for culturally appropriate outreach and marketing programs for the promotion of counseling centers. Only 17.8% of the participants heard about the counseling center through campus advertisements (flyers, web, etc.). Future studies should explore what medium is especially attractive for international students as a source of information and identify culturally appropriate outreach strategies for international students. Several limitations to this study should be addressed. First, the data analysis of the current study was based on the counseling center's archival data. More specifically, the information was initially gathered by the university counseling center for counseling intervention A procedure used in a lawsuit by which the court allows a third person who was not originally a party to the suit to become a party, by joining with either the plaintiff or the defendant. purposes. The researchers did not have direct access to the participants in this study during the data collection or analysis stage. The researchers, therefore, could not ask the students to clarify or elaborate on particular items of interest. If the researchers had access to the students, more detailed information regarding the students' counseling center use could have been obtained. Even though the present research can be added to the current knowledge of international students' utilization of counseling services, its findings do not apply to all international students in the United States. Two characteristics in particular limit the external validity External validity is a form of experimental validity.[1] An experiment is said to possess external validity if the experiment’s results hold across different experimental settings, procedures and participants. of the results. First, the data was collected from international students who visited the counseling center for services. Since some studies suggest that international students generally hesitate to seek psychological services (Prieto, 1995), it is possible that the participants under-represent the international student population nationwide. Thus, the data presented in this study may not apply to international students who do not seek professional support from the counseling center. Second, the unique characteristics of the university at which the data was obtained may interfere with the reliability and validity of this study. The university is located in a small town in the southern part of the U.S. and is historically known for its educational emphasis on agriculture and engineering. It is possible that students with different majors are likely to possess different personality traits that may affect their help-seeking behaviors. Although not all participants in this study were agriculture or engineering majors, the results cannot be generalized gen·er·al·ized adj. 1. Involving an entire organ, as when an epileptic seizure involves all parts of the brain. 2. Not specifically adapted to a particular environment or function; not specialized. 3. to international students at other institutions with different characteristics. Finally, with regard to the reasons for visiting the counseling center, the analysis was based on responses given by the students when they first visited the counseling center. The students provided the responses prior to establishing rapport The former name of device management software from Wyse Technology, San Jose, CA (www.wyse.com) that is designed to centrally control up to 100,000+ devices, including Wyse thin clients (see Winterm), Palm, PocketPC and other mobile devices. and trust with the center, it is possible, therefore, that the responses were influenced by social acceptability and cautious attitudes on the students' part (Murphy & Dillon Dillon may refer to: People
, 1998). For example, a student who was depressed may have indicated on the initial intake form that he or she seeks services for vocational purposes, a more socially acceptable response. In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , it is possible that a discrepancy DISCREPANCY. A difference between one thing and another, between one writing and another; a variance. (q.v.) 2. Discrepancies are material and immaterial. exists between the students' stated purpose of visit and the actual focus of the counseling work. The current study leaves topics to be further explored in future studies. First, in order to identify international students who may require extra guidance and encouragement to nudge nudge 1 tr.v. nudged, nudg·ing, nudg·es 1. To push against gently, especially in order to gain attention or give a signal. 2. them into utilizing counseling services, future studies need to examine attitudes and characteristics of students who have not sought counseling services but are in need of them. Second, it will be beneficial to examine the factors that cause the possible discrepancy between stated purpose and actual focus of counseling, the students' acculturation acculturation, culture changes resulting from contact among various societies over time. Contact may have distinct results, such as the borrowing of certain traits by one culture from another, or the relative fusion of separate cultures. levels, and the levels of English fluency flu·ent adj. 1. a. Able to express oneself readily and effortlessly: a fluent speaker; fluent in three languages. b. to further understand the stigma associated with seeking psychological counseling services and attitudes toward help-seeking. Third, the therapeutic alliances, the difficulties encountered during counseling such as language and cultural barriers between counselors and clients, counselor characteristics, and perceived helpfulness could be other interesting areas of investigation. Finally, there is also a need to examine the long-term Long-term Three or more years. In the context of accounting, more than 1 year. long-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss in the value of a security that has been held over a specific length of time. Compare short-term. developmental changes of the needs and help-seeking attitudes of international students (Prieto, 1995). A new way to assess these developmental changes needs to be developed. To conclude, this study contributes to the current knowledge of the international students' utilization of counseling services, their demographic characteristics, their concerns, referral resources, and the types of services sought. Culturally responsive counseling services should be intentional in·ten·tion·al adj. 1. Done deliberately; intended: an intentional slight. See Synonyms at voluntary. 2. Having to do with intention. , flexible and accessible, and counseling centers should examine their service delivery systems to ensure that their programs meet these requirements. Counseling centers should also develop creative and culturally appropriate outreach strategies and incorporate student and community leaders in the programming and the evaluation of counseling services. By examining a few years of counseling data concerning international students at a major Texas university, this study contributes to our understanding of the unique counseling needs of international students. Counsel ors can use this knowledge to design culturally appropriate counseling services and programs, which could lead to increased utilization of counseling services. Finally, with increasing internationalization The support for monetary values, time and date for countries around the world. It also embraces the use of native characters and symbols in the different alphabets. See localization, i18n, Unicode and IDN. internationalization - internationalisation and globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation and the post- post- word element [L.], after; behind. post- pref. 1. After; later: postpartum. 2. Behind; posterior to: postaxial. 9/11 rise of tensions toward international students, counselors should pay close attention to the increasing needs of the international student community and take on multiple helping roles to reach out to the community.
Table 1 Participant characteristics (n=516)
Characteristics N *
Age Mean (yrs) (SD) 513
GPA Mean (yrs) (SD) 427
Sex Female 210
Male 306
Marital status Unmarried 402
Married 82
Class Undergraduate 271
Graduate 222
Country of Africa 18
origin Asia 284
Canada 14
Central and South America 116
Europe 49
Major Agriculture 66
Business Administration 49
Engineering 175
Liberal Arts 47
Natural Sciences 84
Other 58
Living status Live off campus (non-university housing) 372
Live on campus 141
Reasons for Academic 99
visit to Career 40
counseling Personal 233
center Other 78
Who referred Advisor/Staff 102
you to Friends/Relatives 60
counseling Self 266
center? Faculty 25
Other 9
How did you Advisor/Faculty/Staff 51
hear about Campus advertisements (flyers, web, etc.) 83
counseling Friends 49
center? Other 104
Characteristics %
Age Mean (yrs) (SD) 23.9 (7.33)
GPA Mean (yrs) (SD) 2.8 (0.66)
Sex Female 40.7
Male 59.3
Marital status Unmarried 83.1
Married 16.9
Class Undergraduate 55.0
Graduate 45.0
Country of Africa 3.8
origin Asia 59.0
Canada 2.9
Central and South America 24.1
Europe 10.2
Major Agriculture 13.8
Business Administration 10.2
Engineering 36.5
Liberal Arts 9.8
Natural Sciences 17.5
Other 12.1
Living status Live off campus (non-university housing) 72.5
Live on campus 27.5
Reasons for Academic 22
visit to Career 8.9
counseling Personal 51.8
center Other 17.3
Who referred Advisor/Staff 22.1
you to Friends/Relatives 13
counseling Self 57.6
center? Faculty 5.4
Other 1.9
How did you Advisor/Faculty/Staff 28.9
hear about Campus advertisements (flyers, web, etc.) 17.8
counseling Friends 17.1
center? Other 36.2
* Numbers may not sum to 516 because of missing values.
Table 2
Summary of top ten self-reported problems/issues by degree of concern
and classification.
Extremely
Worried
PROBLEMS/ISSUES N * %
All
Academics/Course Work Grades 338 39.4
Depression 322 31.5
Anxiety/Fear/Nervousness 324 31.3
Confusion About Beliefs/Values Future Life 320 28.1
Self-Esteem 322 28.0
Concentration 304 27.4
Stress-Management 304 26.4
Procrastination/Getting Motivated 326 26.4
Time Management 305 25.9
Breakup/Loss Of Relationship 309 25.9
Undergraduate Students
Academics/Course Work Grades 230 49.3
Anxiety/Fear/Nervousness 219 37.0
Depression 218 29.7
Relationship With Romantic Partner 217 27.3
Confusion About Beliefs/Values Future Life 218 27.1
Test Anxiety 216 26.7
Breakup/Loss Of Relationship 217 25.6
Sleeping Problems 214 25.4
Study Skills Problems 213 24.8
Time Management 209 18.4
Graduate Students
Depression 104 33.7
Time Management 96 30.7
Relationship With Romantic Partner 103 30.6
Sleeping Problems 108 29.8
Confusion About Beliefs/Values Future Life 102 27.9
Pregnancy 96 26.4
Test Anxiety 106 26.2
Academics/Course Work Grades 108 26.1
Anxiety/Fear/Nervousness 105 25.6
Breakup/Loss Of Relationship 92 24.4
Not
Worried Worried
PROBLEMS/ISSUES % %
All
Academics/Course Work Grades 42.6 18.0
Depression 42.7 25.8
Anxiety/Fear/Nervousness 51.4 17.3
Confusion About Beliefs/Values Future Life 41.4 30.5
Self-Esteem 42.1 29.9
Concentration 41.7 30.9
Stress-Management 42.2 31.4
Procrastination/Getting Motivated 39.3 34.3
Time Management 40.0 34.1
Breakup/Loss Of Relationship 25.3 48.8
Undergraduate Students
Academics/Course Work Grades 36.1 14.6
Anxiety/Fear/Nervousness 50.4 12.6
Depression 42.3 28.0
Relationship With Romantic Partner 44.4 28.2
Confusion About Beliefs/Values Future Life 44.9 28.0
Test Anxiety 43.1 30.2
Breakup/Loss Of Relationship 22.2 57.3
Sleeping Problems 38.6 36.0
Study Skills Problems 35.4 39.8
Time Management 41.7 44.0
Graduate Students
Depression 42.7 23.6
Time Management 25.7 43.6
Relationship With Romantic Partner 39.7 30.7
Sleeping Problems 42.9 27.4
Confusion About Beliefs/Values Future Life 38.4 33.7
Pregnancy 37.6 36.0
Test Anxiety 34.5 39.3
Academics/Course Work Grades 52.1 21.9
Anxiety/Fear/Nervousness 53.4 21.1
Breakup/Loss Of Relationship 29.1 46.5
* Numbers may not sum to 516 because of missing values. Many students
only marked on issues they were concerned about. Multiple responses
were possible because they could mark on the issues they had.
References Angelopoulos, M., & Catano, V. M. (1993). International and Canadian Canadian (kənā`dēən), river, 906 mi (1,458 km) long, rising in NE New Mexico. and flowing E across N Texas and central Oklahoma into the Arkansas River in E Oklahoma. students' choice of helping source: it depends on the problem. Journal of College student Development Journal of College Student Development is an academic journal founded in 1959 and is the official publication of the American College Personnel Association. The journal publishes scholarly articles and reviews from a wide variety of academic fields related to college . 34, 377-378. Das, A. K., Chow, S. Y., & Rutherford, B. (1986). The counseling needs of international students. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 9, 167-174. Deressa, B., & Beavers, I. (1988). Needs assessment of international students in College of Home Economics. Educational Research Quarterly, 12, 51-56. Institute for International Education (2002). Open doors report on international exchange. Retrieved August 8, 2002 from http:// www.opendoorsweb.org See .org. (networking) org - The top-level domain for organisations or individuals that don't fit any other top-level domain (national, com, edu, or gov). Though many have .org domains, it was never intended to be limited to non-profit organisations. RFC 1591. . Leong, F. T. L., & Sedlacek, W. E. (1986). A comparison of international and U.S. students' preferences for help sources. Journal of College Students Personnel, 27, 426-430. Lin, J.C.G., (2000). College counseling and international students. In K. Humphrey Hum·phrey , Doris 1895-1958. American dancer and choreographer known for developing techniques of fall and recovery. , & D. Davis (Eds.), College Counseling: Issues and Strategies for a New Millennium (pp. 169-183). Alexandria, VA: U.S. Counseling Association. Lin, J.C.G., Roberts, D.K., (1999). 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Greensboro, NC: ERIC/ CASS CASS Cardiology, cardiovascular surgery A randomized, open label, multicenter trial that compared the outcomes of CABG vs. medical therapy on M&M in Pts with coronary artery disease after an MI. See Angina, CABG, Silent ischemia. Publications. Lin, J.C.G., Orozco, C., Quick, C., Kim, R., Helms, L. (1999) Modifying Traditional Counseling Groups for International Students. Program presented at the annual convention, American Counseling Association The American Counseling Association (ACA) is a non-profit, professional organization that is dedicated to the counseling profession. ACA is the world's second largest association exclusively representing professional counselors. , San Diego, California “San Diego” redirects here. For other uses, see San Diego (disambiguation). San Diego is a coastal Southern California city located in the southwestern corner of the continental United States. As of 2006, the city has a population of 1,256,951. Mau, W., & Jepsen, D. A. (1990). Help-seeking perceptions and behaviors: a comparison of Chinese and U.S. graduate students. Journal of Multicultural mul·ti·cul·tur·al adj. 1. Of, relating to, or including several cultures. 2. Of or relating to a social or educational theory that encourages interest in many cultures within a society rather than in only a mainstream culture. Counseling and Development, 18, 94-104. Mori, S. (2000). Addressing the mental health concerns of international students. Journal of Counseling and Development, 78, 137-144. Murphy, B. C., & Dillon, C. R. (1998). Interviewing in Action. Pacific Grove Pacific Grove, residential and resort city (1990 pop. 16,117), Monterey co., W central Calif., on a point where Monterey Bay meets the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1889. , CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. Parr, G., Bradley, L., & Bingi, R. (1992). Concerns and feelings of international students. Journal of College Student Development, 33, 2025. Prieto, S. L. (1995). International student populations and needs assessment. In S. D. Stabb, S. M. Harris & J. E. Talley (Eds.), Multicultural Needs Assessment for College and University Student Populations (pp. 203-223). Springfield, IL: Charles Thomas Charles Thomas is the name of:
Sandhu, D. S. (1995). An examination of the psychological needs of the international students: implications for counseling and psychotherapy psychotherapy, treatment of mental and emotional disorders using psychological methods. Psychotherapy, thus, does not include physiological interventions, such as drug therapy or electroconvulsive therapy, although it may be used in combination with such methods. . International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 17, 229-239. Sandhu, D. S., & Asrabadi, B. R. (1994). Development of art acculturative ac·cul·tur·a·tion n. 1. The modification of the culture of a group or individual as a result of contact with a different culture. 2. stress scale for international students: Preliminary findings. Psychological Reports. 75, 435-448. Sue, S., Zane, N., & Young, K., (1994). Research on psychotherapy with culturally diverse populations. In A. E. Bergin, & S. L. Garfield (Eds.), Handbook
This article is about reference works. For the subnotebook computer, see .
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of : John Wiley John Wiley may refer to:
Wehrly, B. (1986). Counseling international students: issues concerns and programs. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 19,11-22. Jenny K. Yi, Phd PhD abbr. Latin Philosophiae Doctor (Doctor of Philosophy) PhD Doctorate in Philosophy Graduate education An advanced academic degree, requiring 3 to 6 yrs after basic college/univerity; a PhD can be obtained . MPH MPH Master of Public Health. MPH Master's Degree in Public Health , Associate Professor, Health Promotion Program, University of Houston. Jun-Chih Giseala Lin, PhD ABPP ABPP American Board of Professional Psychology ABPP American Battlefield Protection Program ABPP Agile Business Process Platform (I2 Technologies) ABPP Activity-Based Protein Profiling , Coordinator of International Student Counseling Programs and Services, Texas A&M University. Yuko Kishimoto. BA, Doctoral Student, University of Houston. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Dr. Jenny K. Yi, Associate Professor, Health Program, University of Houston, 3855 Holman St., Garrison Bldg. #104. Email: jyi@uh.edu. |
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