Help Seeking Behaviors of International Students: Stigma, Acculturation, and Attitudes towards Counseling

Background

Apart from contributing immense amounts of revenue to institutions of higher education, international students are a wealth of multicultural information regarding their particular cultures and beliefs at their various institutions (Arthur, 2004). International students are however individuals whose lives, belief, lifestyle, and communication styles may be different from students at their host institution. Many international students go through various adjustment experiences that might prove problematic to them upon arrival in the United States (US). Transitioning to life on a university campus may be challenging for some and there is well-documented evidence (Constantine, Anderson, Berkel, Caldwell, & Utsey, 2005; Hays & Lin, 1994; Hyun, Quinn, Madon, & Lustig, 2007; Mori, 2000; Wilton & Constantine, 2003) that cultural differences make it more difficult for international students to adjust as compared to domestic students. There is also the likelihood that international students may not initiate, or persist in help-seeking efforts if counselors are not equipped to deal with the myriad of issues that international students present (Pedersen, 1997).