Coping Strategies Used by Indian International Students to Overcome Transitional Challenges in the United States

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Many Indian international students are studying in American colleges and universities. Education abroad in an unfamiliar environment can be challenging for students. Thus, the present study investigated the coping strategies employed by six Indian international students studying in the United States, using phenomenological data analysis methodology. Participants expressed invariant constituents, classified into four coping strategy themes: (1) open-mindedness, (2) goal-orientedness, (3) an independent attitude, and (4) showing gratitude. Further, emerging from the data were the ways in which these coping strategies could be acquired. Findings have implications for international student advisors working in the university sector. Universities can play a vital role in promoting such coping strategies to enhance the well-being of international students.