Sociological and Psychological Factors Relating to Preferences among Help Providers of Asian International Students in Japan

Abstract

The purpose of the present research was to investigate the effects of sociological and psychological factors on international students' preferences among help providers. 5 types of helpers were compared: international student advisors (professional helpers), Japanese language teachers and academic advisors (role helpers), and students from the same country as the respondent and Japanese students (volunteer helpers). For each type of helper, the Asian students were asked about academic, health, interpersonal, daily life and financial, and emotional issues. Questionnaires completed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean international students studying in Japan resulted in 257 usable responses. The results showed that concerns about helper responsiveness were negatively related to preferences among helpers, whereas experience with actual supports were positively related to preferences. Self-esteem was positively related to preferences among help providers, and other variables such as gender and Japanese language ability were also related to preferences. The implications of these results for providing help for international students were discussed.