Navigating Psychological Frontiers: A Comparative Literature Review of Mental Health Challenges Among International Students in Japan and Erasmus+ Countries



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Hoang-Nam Tran, Tokushima University, Japan

Abstract

The rapid internationalization of higher education has increased global student mobility, bringing both academic opportunities and challenges. Among these, mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and cultural adjustment difficulties are increasingly reported by international students during their time abroad. Japan and the Erasmus+ countries, comprising key European higher education destinations, offer different sociocultural, linguistic, and institutional environments for students. Despite growing scholarly interest, comparative research on how these regional contexts shape the mental health outcomes of international students remains limited. This literature review synthesizes existing research on the mental health challenges faced by international students in Japan and Erasmus+ countries. Focusing on key themes such as acculturative stress, language barriers, academic pressure, social integration, and access to mental health services, the paper highlights both shared difficulties and context-specific patterns. By drawing cross-regional comparisons, this review contributes to a deeper understanding of how educational and sociocultural systems influence student well-being and points to implications for policy and institutional support systems.


Paper Information

Conference: KAMC2025
Stream: Difference/Identity/Ethnicity

This paper is part of the KAMC2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Tran H. (2026) Navigating Psychological Frontiers: A Comparative Literature Review of Mental Health Challenges Among International Students in Japan and Erasmus+ Countries ISSN: 2436-0503 – The Kyoto Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 29-40) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.4
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.4


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Posted by James Alexander Gordon