Exploring International Students’ Personal and Social Resources

Enhancing Academic Well-Being in the Medical Environment

Bibliographic Data

ID22041986
AuthorsMonica Adriana Vaida (0000-0001-7599-6023, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara), Ramona Paloş (0000-0002-4426-8178, West University of Timişoara, corresponding author), Adelina Maria Jianu (0000-0002-4238-7253, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara, corresponding author), Nawwaf Sebastian Damen (0000-0003-3653-4664, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara), Laura Octavia Grigoriță (0000-0002-8679-9655, Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timișoara)
Year2025
Volume15
Issue11
Pages1444
Publication date2025-10-28
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEducation Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2227-7102 • E-ISSN: 2227-7102
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/educsci15111444
OpenAlexW4415619726
LanguageEN
References cited69

(1) Background: Attending universities in foreign countries is a great challenge for international students, especially when adapting to a new culture and meeting specific university requirements. In this context, the present study investigates the relationship between students’ personal (i.e., psychological capital) and social resources (i.e., teachers’ support, perceived support of family, friends, and significant others), the satisfaction and frustration of their psychological needs (i.e., autonomy, competence, and relatedness), and how these factors contribute to their overall well-being (i.e., academic engagement and burnout). (2) Methods: A sample of 185 international students enrolled at a medical university in Romania completed six questionnaires. Stepwise linear regression analysis was conducted to verify the study’s hypotheses. (3) Results: The results indicated that students’ engagement was positively associated with psychological capital, teachers and family support, and autonomy need satisfaction. Also, autonomy needs’ satisfaction was negatively related to burnout, while autonomy and relatedness needs’ frustrations were positively associated. (4) Conclusions: Based on these findings, specific strategies were proposed to significantly enhance international students’ well-being in the medical university environment

Autonomy · Higher education · Life satisfaction · Personal autonomy · Self-determination theory · Social support · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Higher Education Governance and Development · International Student and Expatriate Challenges

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Open DOIOpen Access