A Study on the Mental Well-being of Nepalese Social Services Students in Finland.
Gautam, Achyut; Basnet, Ganesh (2020)
Gautam, Achyut
Basnet, Ganesh
2020
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020112323864
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020112323864
Tiivistelmä
This thesis is a study of mental wellbeing experience of Nepalese social services students in Finland from a sheer subjective perspective. The study deals with the experiences shared by the students that what factors played a significant role to affect their mental wellbeing and how they deal with the challenges they face as a student in order to continue their lives smoothly in a foreign land.
This qualitative research study used semi-structured interviews as a method of data collection where five Nepalese students participated to share and reflect on their mental wellbeing experiences. The interviews were recorded, transcribed into English version as the interviews were conducted in Nepali language and analysed using thematic analysis.
The findings of the study revealed that the factors that affected the Nepalese students’ mental wellbeing were language barrier and discrimination, finances, learning pedagogy, longing for home, cultural differences and fear of the future. The experiences of the students unveiled that they astutely employed coping strategies such as self-care techniques, communication with friends, family and seeking help, and religion and spirituality to manage their stresses in life. Despite various factors that affected the students’ mental wellbeing, they have been able to lead their everyday lives with hope, positivity and optimism in a foreign country, which is a positive sign for other international students. Overall, this study has provided an insight into the life of Nepalese students, their issues, and their understanding of mental wellbeing and the mechanisms to cope with the problems.
Keywords: Mental wellbeing, international students, subjective wellbeing, coping mechanisms, Nepalese students.
This qualitative research study used semi-structured interviews as a method of data collection where five Nepalese students participated to share and reflect on their mental wellbeing experiences. The interviews were recorded, transcribed into English version as the interviews were conducted in Nepali language and analysed using thematic analysis.
The findings of the study revealed that the factors that affected the Nepalese students’ mental wellbeing were language barrier and discrimination, finances, learning pedagogy, longing for home, cultural differences and fear of the future. The experiences of the students unveiled that they astutely employed coping strategies such as self-care techniques, communication with friends, family and seeking help, and religion and spirituality to manage their stresses in life. Despite various factors that affected the students’ mental wellbeing, they have been able to lead their everyday lives with hope, positivity and optimism in a foreign country, which is a positive sign for other international students. Overall, this study has provided an insight into the life of Nepalese students, their issues, and their understanding of mental wellbeing and the mechanisms to cope with the problems.
Keywords: Mental wellbeing, international students, subjective wellbeing, coping mechanisms, Nepalese students.