RT Article
T1 Stress and quality of life in international and domestic university students: cultural differences in the use of religious coping
JF Mental health, religion & culture
VO 15
IS 3
SP 265
OP 277
A1 Chai, Penny   Pei Minn
A1 Krägeloh, Christian   Ulrich
A1 Shepherd, Daniel
A1 Billington, Rex
LA English
PB Taylor & Francis
YR 2012
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1838988548
AB Studying overseas entails a number of transitions and challenges, and the present study investigated the strategies international university students use to cope with stressors. Previous research suggests that international students may be more likely than domestic students to draw on religion/spirituality as a source of dealing with stress, but the direct links between stress, religious coping and quality of life are yet to be documented explicitly. A sample of 679 university students in New Zealand completed the quality of life scale WHOQOL-BREF with an additional WHOQOL module used to assess spiritual, religious, and personal beliefs (SRPB). The students also completed the Perceived Stress Scale and the Brief COPE inventory. Irrespective of stress levels encountered or whether participants were international or domestic students, Asian students were more likely to use religious coping strategies than European students. Unlike European students, Asian students’ use of religious coping was effective in improving psychological and social quality of life. The findings also provide support for the main effects hypothesis of religion/spirituality. The present study demonstrates that cultural factors play an important role in the manner in which individuals maintain mental health and quality of life.
K1 New Zealand
K1 cultural differences
K1 Quality of life
K1 Religion/spirituality
K1 Religious Coping
K1 University Students
DO 10.1080/13674676.2011.571665