La Integración Transcultural a través de la Lente de la Soledad: un Estudio de Estudiantes Chinos de Entrada Directa en el Reino Unido

Translated title of the contribution: Cross-Cultural Integration through the Lens of Loneliness: a Study of Chinese Direct Entry Students in the United Kingdom

Xianghan O'dea, Julian Stern

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study explores cross-cultural integration of Chinese top-up students in a UK university from the perspective of loneliness. Existing research on integration has underplayed loneliness. This study used semi-structured interviews to collect data at three key transition points during the top-up year. The findings suggest that students experienced loneliness both within and beyond their group, notwithstanding a number of reasons why they might be expected to be less lonely than other international students. Loneliness seemed to have a significant impact on cross-cultural integration, and participants were also unable to form strong bonds within their cohort of Chinese top-up students, and unable to experience healthy solitude. There are implications for the pre-departure preparation of such students, for the institutions hosting such students, and for responses to the social and emotional challenges they experience.

Este estudio explora la integración transcultural de los estudiantes chinos en una universidad del Reino Unido desde la perspectiva de la soledad. Las investigaciones existentes sobre la integración han restado importancia a la soledad. Este estudio utilizó entrevistas semiestructuradas para recopilar datos en tres puntos de transición clave durante el año de recarga. Los resultados sugieren que los estudiantes experimentaron la soledad tanto dentro como fuera de su grupo, a pesar de una serie de razones por las que se podría esperar que estuvieran menos solos que otros estudiantes internacionales. La soledad parece tener un impacto significativo en la integración transcultural, y los participantes tampoco pudieron formar vínculos fuertes dentro de su cohorte de estudiantes chinos de nivel superior, y no pudieron experimentar una soledad saludable. Esto tiene implicaciones para la preparación previa a la partida de estos estudiantes, para las instituciones que los acogen y para las respuestas a los retos sociales y emocionales que experimentan.
Translated title of the contributionCross-Cultural Integration through the Lens of Loneliness: a Study of Chinese Direct Entry Students in the United Kingdom
Original languageSpanish
Pages (from-to)203-229
Number of pages27
JournalQualitative Research in Education
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Oct 2022
Externally publishedYes

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