Chi Maher
Introduction
Stressors are psychological events that students tend to see as demanding, challenging and threatening to their safety (Cao et al., 2021). They can affect mental function, performance, and individual behaviour. A stressor is a stimulus that causes stress. Stress is a natural human response prompting us to address challenges and threats in our lives (Van den Bergh, 2021).
In Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UK students generally experience stress due to academic work demands and living away from home (Karaman et al.,2019). However, international students face not only the same stress as other UK-domiciled students; they also face additional stressors related to cultural adjustment, financial concerns and living away from their home country. Stressors may also occur when international students are unable to cope with their new environment in terms of culture and norms. It is often difficult to adjust to the culture and norms in another country. Adjusting to life in a foreign country with a different culture can be stressful for some students. For example, social norms in the UK such as, clubbing and drinking alcohol might be unfamiliar social activities for some international students making it harder for them to adjust to their new environment or maintaining new University friendships (Lomer and Mittelmeier, 2021).
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