Running Head: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH STRESS IS AFFECTING THE HEALTH (PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH) OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO ARE STUDYING AT TORRENS UNIVERSITY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA...

RUNNING HEAD: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
TITLE: STRESS IS AFFECTING THE HEALTH (PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH) OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO ARE STUDYING AT TORRENS UNIVERSITY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH ANALYSIS
SUBJECT: PUBH6013 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
TOPIC COORDINATOR NAME: BRIGID MAHONEY
NAME OF THE STUDENT: JAGDEEP KAUR KHSOA
STUDENT ID: 00312466T
ABSTRACT
In the academic life of a student, stress has become a major part because of various expectations placed upon them. The academic stress leads to transitions at individual as well as the social level, hence the most vulnerable to it are the adolescents. Stress has a negative implication on humans because it releases certain hormones that causes harmful pathways in the body leading to severe health complications in the future. The topic of research in this paper is the effect of stress in the international students of Torrens University, South Australia; this includes the effect on psychological, mental, and physical well-being. The steps taken in this study are chronologically, which started from discovering the area of research, topic and then the question. This method is more appropriate for this subject and interviews will be beneficial in understanding the perspective of the students in detail. In this research, I observed that most of the international students are affected by stress and this has a negative impact on their health. So, this leads to physical, psychological as well as mental health issues. This can be solved by socialising with the international students and make them aware that they are not alone there. Hence, the mental support is essential to help such students out of this situation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................... 4
DISCUSSION............................................................................................................................ 4
Research Question ........................................................................................................ 4
Overview of Literature ................................................................................................. 4
Knowledge Gap………………………………………………………………………. 5
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS............................................................................................... 5
METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................................... 5
Description……………………………………………………………………………. 5
Justification................................................................................................................... 6
Sample and Setting……………………………………………………………….….. 6
Interview Process.......................................................................................................... 6
Interview Questions...................................................................................................... 7
Interview Sessions........................................................................................................ 7
Coding of Transcripts................................................................................................... 7
FINDINGS…………………………………………………………………………………… 7
CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS……………………………………………………... 9
REFLECTION......................................................................................................................... 10
REFERENCES........................................................................................................................ 10
INTRODUCTION
Qualitative research proposal is needed to implement a research for a particular topic as it has certain approaches that helps in obtaining data from a sample of population. Qualitative research is descriptive and it is widely being used by researchers as it is evolving and complex.
In the academic life of a student, stress has become a major part because of various expectations placed upon them. The academic stress leads to transitions at individual as well as the social level, hence the most vulnerable to it are the adolescents. For deriving the adequate and efficient strategies for intervention, it is important to know the sources and impact of the academic stress (Reddy, Menon & Thattil, 2018).
The topic of research in this paper is the effect of stress in the international students of Torrens University, South Australia; this includes the effect on psychological, mental, and physical well-being (Akhtar & Kröner-Herwig, 2015). The steps are taken chronologically, which started from discovering the area of research, topic and then the question. This proposed project is done according to the methods of a qualitative research because the data needs to be descriptive to understand the effect of stress on the students. This method is more appropriate for this subject and interviews will be beneficial in understanding the perspective of the students in detail. The researchers in qualitative method have their specific terminologies and principles that differentiates this method from other study designs (Hammarberg, Kirkman & de Lacey, 2016).
DISCUSSION
Research Question
The research question for this paper is: How the stress affects the health (physical, psychological and mental health) of international students who are studying in Torrens University, South Australia?
Overview of Literature
Stress has a negative implication on humans because it releases certain hormones that causes harmful pathways in the body leading to severe health complications in the future. College and school are the best period of life for many young adults. But these critical years can also be affected by anxiety, stress and depression (Maajida Aafreen, M.; Vishnu Priya, 2018). The university level studies can be a stressful experience, if the student cannot cope with that environment (Uchil H. B., 2017).
International students who migrate from their country have a difficult time adjusting to the new country and city due to the cultural and lifestyle differences. They migrate alone to a different country leaving their families and loved ones, which also adds to their dilemma as they have no one to share their feelings. The knowledge in the field of academics regarding the stress on foreign students has a wide gap in the research field. The sudden responsibility of managing everything all alone increases their burden and they are already suffering from the academic pressure, which elevates the stress.
This study implements a research that reduces the literature gap in this topic through an efficient research...