A Longitudinal Examination of Study Abroad - Student Characteristics and Psychological Health Associations

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by kopisore

A longitudinal study examines how studying abroad relates to psychological health across the first three years of college, using a sample of 612 students. It identifies participant traits linked to higher likelihood of studying abroad, including being female, belonging to a Fraternity/Sorority, being a non-STEM major, and reporting high sensation seeking. Students reported less stress and depression and greater positive affect while abroad than those not abroad, and relative to their own before-and-after experiences.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Traits Associated with Studying Abroad

Demographic and background characteristics

Personality and behavioral factors

Motivations and decision factors

Study Abroad and Psychological Health

A LONGITUDINAL EXAMINATION OF STUDY ABROAD: STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH ASSOCIATIONS Katherine D. Maultsby Lauren A. Stutts Davidson College The present study examined traits associated with studying abroad and how study abroad is related to psychological health in a sample of 612 college students over their first three years of college. Individuals who were female, a Fraternity/Sorority member, a non-STEM major, and who had high sensation seeking were more likely to study abroad. While abroad, students reported less stress and depression, and higher positive affect than students who were not abroad and compared to before and after going abroad. Results suggest that study abroad has psychological benefits; however, not all students have the same likelihood/ability to participate. Acknowledgments : This research was supported by a grant from The Duke Endowment to Davidson College, Duke University, Furman University, and Johnson C. Smith University. Project investigators (in alphabetical order, Steven R. Asher, Kerstin K. Blomquist, Rick H. Hoyle, Mark R. Leary, Beth A. Pontari, Cinnamon A. Stetler, Timothy J. Strauman, Lauren A. Stutts, Debra F. Terrell, and Molly S. Weeks), research staff (in alphabetical order, Jeremy Chaikind, Victoria Guinn, Ashley Hufnagle, Frances Lobo, Sejal Lyons, Linas Mitchell, Qinhua Sun, and Andrew Zeveney), and student life colleagues on the four campuses contributed to the research. Please direct inquires about this manuscript to: Lauren Stutts, [lastutts@davidson.edu](lastutts@davidson.edu) College Student Affairs Journal, Volume 37(2), pp. 183-198 ISSN 2381-2338 Copyright 2019 Southern Association for College Student Affairs All rights of reproduction in any form reserved. 184 College Student Affairs Journal Vol. 37, No. 2, 2019 S tudying abroad is becoming increasingly popular with American students. According to the Institute of Interna- tional Education’s (2016) Open Doors Report, more than 310,000 students studied abroad during the 2014 - 2015 academic year, an over 100% increase from the number of study abroad students fifteen years ago. Those 310,000 students reflect approximately 10% of students nationally who study abroad before they graduate. Inan investigation including over 6,000 students who studied abroad in college, studying abroad was reported as the college experience with the single largest impact on students’ lives overall (Paige, Fry, Stallman, Josić, & Jon, 2009) . In addition, it has been suggested that study abroad could be an important retention factor for universities (Metzger, 2006) . Europe is the most popular study abroad destination, consistently hosting over 50% of American study abroad students. The most common places to study abroad in Europe are the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and France (NAFSA: Association of International Educators, 2015) . The present study aimed to examine the traits associated with studying abroad and how study abroad is related to psychological health. Traits Associated with Studying Abroad There are certain demographic and background characteristics that are associated with studying abroad. For example, it has been consistently documented that students who study abroad are more likely to be women and Caucasian (Institute of International Education, 2015; Salisbury, Paulsen,& Pascarella, 2011) . Students studying humanities were more likely to study abroad than students studying engineering (Luo & Jamieson-Drake, 2015; Stroud, 2010) . In contrast, STEM majors have been found tobe less likely to study abroad (Niehaus & Inkelas, 2016) . Furthermore, membership in a Fraternity/Sorority Organization, time spent socializing with friends, an eagerness to improve understanding of other cultures, and higher household incomes were all associated with a higher chance of studying abroad (Luo & Jamieson-Drake, 2015) . Evidence indicates that college students who study abroad also have pers

FAQs

Which student characteristics were associated with a higher likelihood of studying abroad?

Female students, Fraternity/Sorority members, non-STEM majors, and students with high sensation seeking were more likely to study abroad.

How did psychological health outcomes differ for students while abroad?

While abroad, students reported less stress and depression and higher positive affect compared with students who did not study abroad and compared with their own pre- and post-abroad periods.

What factors did students most commonly report as motivations for studying abroad?

Students most commonly described studying abroad for a new experience, to learn about other cultures, and to travel, with travel highlighted as supporting individual growth and other life skills.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by kopisore