Intercultural perspective on happiness in international female university students: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The number of international students is gradually increasing, and the lack of adaptability they experience affect their happiness. This study aimed to examine the happiness of international undergraduate students using a qualitative method.

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 international undergraduate students studying at the university.

RESULTS

The themes identified as a result of the content analysis were as follows: components of happiness, the meaning of being a happy university student in another country, and the meaning of unhappiness.

DISCUSSION: Students' perspectives on happiness vary according to collectivist and individualist social characteristics. The most important sources of support for students are friends from societies similar to their own cultures. Students from collectivist societies are more reserved and, therefore, unhappy academically and socially. Mental health professionals serving university students and other professionals working in this field need to plan therapeutic interventions to increase the well-being of international students, taking into account risk factors.