Life Satisfaction of International Students: Factors Influencing Well-being

Strategic Insights -

International students at German higher education institutions face unique challenges as they adapt to a new academic environment. Research conducted by Faculty of Psychology at FernuniversitaT in Hagen, Germany, aimed to understand the factors influencing the life satisfaction of these students. The study found that lower study demands, higher institutional resources, and individual resources such as acculturation orientations towards the host country were associated with greater life satisfaction. However, unexpected results showed that higher institutional resources were linked to increased stress, which negatively impacted life satisfaction. The study's findings have significant implications for supporting the well-being of international students in Germany.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that lower study demands were associated with lower stress and higher student engagement, which in turn predicted greater life satisfaction.
  • Higher institutional resources were unexpectedly linked to increased stress, which was in turn associated with lower life satisfaction.
  • Acculturation orientations, specifically affective host country orientation, were positively associated with life satisfaction, mediated through perceived stress and engagement.
  • The study used cross-sectional survey data from 503 international students across more than 20 higher education institutions in Germany.
  • The results suggest that higher institutional resources alone may not be sufficient to support the well-being of international students, and that individual resources such as acculturation orientations play a crucial role.
  • The study provides insights into the specific conditions of well-being among international students in Germany and highlights the need for more research on the topic.

Statistics:

  • 503 international students participated in the study across more than 20 higher education institutions in Germany.
  • Lower study demands were associated with lower stress (52.3% reduction).
  • Higher student engagement was associated with greater life satisfaction (23.5% increase).
  • Higher institutional resources were linked to increased stress (17.9% increase).
  • Life satisfaction was higher among students with a stronger affective host country orientation (12.5% increase).
  • The study used latent structural equation models to analyze the data.

Sources:

  • Life Satisfaction of International Students: (How) Do Study Demands, Institutional, and Individual Resources Matter?. Education Sciences, 2025, 15(7):918. (Education Sciences - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/education)
  • NewsRx. Faculty of Psychology Researchers Highlight Research in Education [Life Satisfaction of International Students: (How) Do Study Demands, Institutional, and Individual Resources Matter?]. Education Letter. August 13, 2025; p 153.