The in-betweens: the psychosocial concerns and help-seeking experiences among Korean international students

Many researchers have argued adaptation to the U.S. has been a major struggle among Korean international students (Chun & Poole, 2009). The studies show Korean international students have experienced multiple challenges to adjust and developed their own ways to cope with (Chun & Poole, 2009). There has been no study that investigates psychosocial challenges and coping strategies in-depth with qualitative findings. This study explores psychosocial concerns around adjustment and help-seeking experiences among Korean international students. This thesis aims to answer these questions: 1) What are the main stressors when adjusting to the U.S. college and society and maintaining ties to transnational family? 2) How do Korean international students seek support on college campuses? The thesis examines the questions through online surveys (n=143) and in-depth interviews (n=10) using grounded theory. Quantitative findings identified Korean international students’ major stressors on adjustment to the U.S. and U.S. colleges, challenges to stay connected with family in South Korea, and tendencies toward seeking support. The qualitative findings reported the following the major themes for the psychosocial concerns: grieving separation with family and familiar networks, resocializing oneself while acquiring English, struggling to navigate health care and health insurance, and experiencing anxieties about visa process. The major theme for seeking support were the following: perceiving the need for self-sufficiency from a parent, supporting each other among Korean international students as sharing jeong, and stigmatizing counseling therapy while facing language barriers to access it. The findings of the thesis provide significant implications for U.S. colleges, faculty, administrators, staff, counseling professionals, and people who work with and support Korean international students.