WED-044 - Examining Mental Health Disparities Among South Asian International College Students by Stress Levels

Brief Abstract Summary: Discover how stress is associated with psychological distress, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and mental health service use among South Asian international college students. Using univariate logistic regression analysis and odds ratios, this study identifies striking mental health disparities between students reporting moderate/high stress and those with no/low stress. Students experiencing high stress had significantly higher odds of suicidal ideation, loneliness, and severe psychological distress. This presentation highlights the urgent need for culturally responsive, proactive mental health outreach for international student populations experiencing heightened psychosocial stressors related to migration, identity, and systemic marginalization in U.S. academic settings.

Detailed abstract description: South Asian international college students face unique mental health challenges shaped by academic pressures, cultural expectations, migration stress, and limited institutional support. This presentation examines the association between stress and key mental health outcomes among a sample of over 4,000 college students, with a specific focus on South Asian international students attending U.S. universities. Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that students experiencing moderate to high stress were significantly more likely to screen positive for suicidal ideation using the Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). Among those with high stress, 16.9% screened positive, compared to just 4.3% of low-stress students (χ² = 131.54, p < .001; OR = 4.51). Loneliness, measured by the UCLA Loneliness Scale, was also significantly elevated among high-stress students (64.5%) relative to their low-stress peers (39.8%) (χ² = 226.44, p < .001; OR = 2.75). Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler-6 scale. A striking 30.9% of high-stress students reported severe psychological distress, compared to only 4.8% in the low-stress group (χ² = 356.14, p < .001; OR = 8.82). Gender differences emerged within the South Asian student population: 73.2% of female-identifying students reported moderate to high stress, compared to 58.5% of male-identifying students, indicating that stress is not only prevalent but also gendered in expression and potential outcomes. These findings illuminate a critical intersection of cultural identity, migration-related stress, and systemic inattention to the mental health needs of international students. Despite higher rates of distress, many South Asian international students encounter barriers to seeking support, including cultural stigma, language differences, and distrust in mental health systems that are not culturally tailored. The reliance on reactive services, rather than preventive outreach, may exacerbate inequities. This session will guide participants through the data and implications, equipping them with evidence-based recommendations for culturally grounded interventions. Attendees will explore how tailored mental health promotion efforts, de-stigmatizing campaigns, and inclusive campus policies can advance health equity for international student populations, especially during times like the present, when international students need a sense of belonging. Public health educators, program planners, and higher education stakeholders will leave with practical strategies for supporting the well-being of South Asian international students, focusing not only on service expansion but also on culturally relevant education, peer-based support models, and upstream prevention that centers on their lived experiences.