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Psychological Vulnerability and Well-Being of Chinese International Students in Southeast Asia's EMI Contexts: A Systematic Review

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Title: Psychological Vulnerability and Well-Being of Chinese International Students in Southeast Asia's EMI Contexts: A Systematic Review
Language: English
Authors: Wenou Xue (ORCID 0009-0003-6970-6028)
Source: Journal of International Students. 2026 16(3):151-172.
Availability: Journal of International Students. 4005 Spurgeon Drive #6, Monroe, LA 71203. Tel: 318-600-5743; Fax: 318-342-3131; e-mail: jis@ojed.org; Web site: https://www.ojed.org/index.php/jis/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 31
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Foreign Students, English (Second Language), Language of Instruction, Mental Health, Well Being, Stress Variables, Language Proficiency, Student Responsibility, Cultural Differences, Resilience (Psychology), Social Support Groups, Self Efficacy, Coping, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: China, Asia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore
ISSN: 2162-3104
2166-3750
Abstract: The rapid increase in the number of Chinese international students in English-medium instruction programs in Southeast Asia has raised concerns about their psychological well-being. Despite growing scholarly attention to international student mental health, a comprehensive, region-specific synthesis for Southeast Asia remains lacking. This review examined empirical studies published between 2015 and 2025 on psychological outcomes, acculturative stress, and well-being among Chinese students in Southeast Asian higher education. Drawing on Berry's acculturation theory and Lazarus and Folkman's coping framework, this review identified recurring stressors, including English communication anxiety, localized challenges in English comprehension, heavy academic workloads, and cultural expectations related to religion, food, and gender norms. Protective factors such as social and family support, resilience, and self-efficacy reduce stress, whereas avoidance coping intensifies it. Methodological limitations included reliance on cross-sectional surveys, inconsistent adaptation of measurement instruments, and limited theoretical integration. The review highlights academic, sociocultural, and structural influences on student wellbeing and calls for theory-driven, multilevel research and context-sensitive policies to strengthen mental health support in EMI settings.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1495188
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Psychological Vulnerability and Well-Being of Chinese International Students in Southeast Asia's EMI Contexts: A Systematic Review
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wenou+Xue%22">Wenou Xue</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6970-6028">0009-0003-6970-6028</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+International+Students%22"><i>Journal of International Students</i></searchLink>. 2026 16(3):151-172.
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  Data: Journal of International Students. 4005 Spurgeon Drive #6, Monroe, LA 71203. Tel: 318-600-5743; Fax: 318-342-3131; e-mail: jis@ojed.org; Web site: https://www.ojed.org/index.php/jis/index
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 31
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Students%22">Foreign Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+of+Instruction%22">Language of Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+Health%22">Mental Health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Well+Being%22">Well Being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stress+Variables%22">Stress Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Responsibility%22">Student Responsibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Differences%22">Cultural Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resilience+%28Psychology%29%22">Resilience (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Support+Groups%22">Social Support Groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Efficacy%22">Self Efficacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coping%22">Coping</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asia%22">Asia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Malaysia%22">Malaysia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Philippines%22">Philippines</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thailand%22">Thailand</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Singapore%22">Singapore</searchLink>
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  Data: 2162-3104<br />2166-3750
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The rapid increase in the number of Chinese international students in English-medium instruction programs in Southeast Asia has raised concerns about their psychological well-being. Despite growing scholarly attention to international student mental health, a comprehensive, region-specific synthesis for Southeast Asia remains lacking. This review examined empirical studies published between 2015 and 2025 on psychological outcomes, acculturative stress, and well-being among Chinese students in Southeast Asian higher education. Drawing on Berry's acculturation theory and Lazarus and Folkman's coping framework, this review identified recurring stressors, including English communication anxiety, localized challenges in English comprehension, heavy academic workloads, and cultural expectations related to religion, food, and gender norms. Protective factors such as social and family support, resilience, and self-efficacy reduce stress, whereas avoidance coping intensifies it. Methodological limitations included reliance on cross-sectional surveys, inconsistent adaptation of measurement instruments, and limited theoretical integration. The review highlights academic, sociocultural, and structural influences on student wellbeing and calls for theory-driven, multilevel research and context-sensitive policies to strengthen mental health support in EMI settings.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1495188
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 31
        StartPage: 151
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language of Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental Health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Well Being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Stress Variables
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      – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Responsibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Resilience (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Support Groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Efficacy
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      – SubjectFull: Coping
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Asia
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      – SubjectFull: Malaysia
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      – SubjectFull: Philippines
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      – SubjectFull: Thailand
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      – SubjectFull: Singapore
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Psychological Vulnerability and Well-Being of Chinese International Students in Southeast Asia's EMI Contexts: A Systematic Review
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