Mental Health in Relation to Xenophobic Experiences among African University Students in South Africa.

IF 2.4 3区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Pub Date : 2025-10-16 DOI:10.1007/s40615-025-02682-5

Akeem Adedolapo, Merga B Feyasa, Muneeb Salie, Soraya Seedat

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives: Despite students from the African continent making up the majority of international students in South Africa, no studies have specifically assessed the association between xenophobia and perceived mental health outcomes in this population. We sought to ascertain the prevalence, types, associated features, and mental health associations of xenophobic experiences at a South African Higher Education Institution. Specifically, we examined xenophobic experiences and everyday discrimination of African postgraduate students as well as the impact of these experiences.

Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study of African postgraduate students between December 2020 and March 2021. One hundred and sixty-one participants completed the online survey.

Results: Nearly half (72; 44.52%) reported experiencing xenophobia. Univariate analysis showed statistically significant associations between xenophobia and depression (p = 0.021), anxiety (p = 0.009), and PTSD symptoms (p = 0.001), but not with alcohol use (p = 0.687). On multivariate analysis, social support had a significant moderating effect on the association between xenophobia and PTSD severity (p = 0.008).

Conclusion: Findings from this study can inform interventions, such as improved access to mental health care for African international students in South Africa that may produce substantial benefits in terms of mental health and related outcomes.

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南非非洲大学生心理健康与仇外经历的关系

目的：尽管来自非洲大陆的学生占南非国际学生的大多数，但没有研究专门评估该人群中仇外心理与心理健康结果之间的关系。我们试图确定南非高等教育机构中仇外经历的患病率、类型、相关特征和心理健康关联。具体来说，我们研究了非洲研究生的仇外经历和日常歧视，以及这些经历的影响。设计：我们在2020年12月至2021年3月期间对非洲研究生进行了横断面研究。161名参与者完成了在线调查。结果：近一半（72人；44.52%）的受访者表示经历过仇外心理。单变量分析显示，仇外心理与抑郁（p = 0.021）、焦虑（p = 0.009）和创伤后应激障碍症状（p = 0.001）之间存在统计学显著关联，但与酒精使用无关（p = 0.687）。多因素分析显示，社会支持对仇外心理与PTSD严重程度的关系有显著调节作用（p = 0.008）。结论：本研究的结果可以为干预措施提供信息，例如改善在南非的非洲国际学生获得精神卫生保健的机会，这可能在精神卫生和相关结果方面产生实质性的好处。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

7.30

自引率

5.10%

发文量

263

期刊介绍： Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities reports on the scholarly progress of work to understand, address, and ultimately eliminate health disparities based on race and ethnicity. Efforts to explore underlying causes of health disparities and to describe interventions that have been undertaken to address racial and ethnic health disparities are featured. Promising studies that are ongoing or studies that have longer term data are welcome, as are studies that serve as lessons for best practices in eliminating health disparities. Original research, systematic reviews, and commentaries presenting the state-of-the-art thinking on problems centered on health disparities will be considered for publication. We particularly encourage review articles that generate innovative and testable ideas, and constructive discussions and/or critiques of health disparities.Because the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities receives a large number of submissions, about 30% of submissions to the Journal are sent out for full peer review.