2022 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 1-14
This study aimed to examine differences in perceptions of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and anxiety-relieving behaviors after the lifting of the first state of emergency in Japan between mainland China international students (MCISs) and other international students (ISs). An online survey targeting ISs enrolled at four national universities in the Kanto region of Japan was conducted from early to mid-June 2020. Data from 333 ISs were analyzed, including 202 MCISs and 131 other ISs. The results indicated that MCISs started to pay attention to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier and collected relevant information more proactively than other ISs before the first state of emergency. However, MCISs used official media, such as television and newspapers, much less than other ISs. In addition, all ISs were able to cope with stress toward the COVID-19 pandemic by asking for help and advice from same-language speakers (SLSs). However, other ISs were able to ask for more help and advice from Japanese people than MCISs, and they engaged in more anxiety-relieving behavior than MCISs. Furthermore, although MCISs and other ISs used different social media to collect information, the usage and methods of coping with stress had similar positive effects on relieving anxiety for both MCISs and other ISs. Those who received less help and advice from SLSs and Japanese people struggled to relieve anxiety, particularly other ISs with lower levels of Japanese language proficiency.