Abstract
This study examined relationships between duration of stay and self-rated health among international students in South Korea and compared participants’ health-related characteristics according to duration of stay. The study recruited a convenience sample of 165 international students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs. For this cross-sectional, descriptive study, participants were recruited at one South Korean university. Data were subjected to ordinal logistic regression analyses. After controlling for covariates, a stay of 6 months or less was a significant predictor of better self-rated health. Compared to those in their first semester, international students staying more than 6 months more frequently experienced short sleep duration, physical health symptoms, healthcare utilization, unmet healthcare needs, and perceived discrimination. Study findings indicate that international students’ health tends to deteriorate after their first semester. To promote the health and academic success of international students, universities should provide timely health promotion programs.
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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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The authors thank Jon S. Mann of the University of Illinois at Chicago and Kyra Freestar of Bridge Creek Editing for their English language editing support for this manuscript.
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Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, and Project administration: DC (equal) and HY (equal) and KA (supporting). Analysis: HY (equal) and CGP (equal) and KA (supporting). Validation: DC (equal) and AD (equal). Writing original draft, review and editing: DC (lead) and HY (equal) and AD (equal) and CGP (supporting) and KA (supporting).
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Chae, D., Yang, H., Doorenbos, A.Z. et al. The Relationship Between Duration of Stay and Self-rated Health Among International College Students in South Korea. J Community Health 48, 67–78 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-022-01145-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-022-01145-w