a growing experience - Student Services - University of Melbourne

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HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTSTable 55Number ofstudentsTotalIncidence of STIs (n=973)MalesFemales(n=973) (n=345) (n=622)Yes No Yes No Yes No896513446616Percentage0.899.2* Not all students indicated their gender.0.399.71.099.0When relationships are not running smoothly, they can be a source of distress forstudents. Respondents were asked to comment on this issue, through ratings on itemB17. The strong majority of students indicate that they have not been unduly upset byrelationships with their girlfriends, boyfriends or partners, during their studies inAustralia (Table 56). However 13.1 per cent of male students and 17.4 per cent offemale students have experienced considerable distress (ratings of 2 or 3). There is asignificant gender difference on item B17, with women reporting greater distress thanmen 267 .Table 56Relationships that cause distressB17. My relationship with a girlfriend/boyfriend/partner has upset me during my studies here.(n=975)Mean SD 0Not at allPercentage ratings1To somedegree2To aconsiderable degreeTotal (n=971) 0.7 0.9 56.4 27.6 9.4 6.6Males (n=345) 0.5 0.8 62.0 24.9 9.9 3.2Females (n=620) 0.7 0.9 53.4 29.2 9.0 8.4There are statistically significant relationships between students’ ratings on item B17and their scores on several scales. The stronger students’ level of distress aboutrelationships, the stronger their level of cultural stress 268 , general stress 269 , perceptionsof drug use 270 , alcohol use 271 , and engagement in gambling and smoking 272 . Asignificant correlation was found with Anxiety for women 273 but not men. Thecorrelations with Cultural Stress and general Stress were stronger for women thanmen, while the correlations with drugs, alcohol, smoking and gambling scales werestronger for men than women. In fact the correlation with the Perceptions ofGambling and Smoking scale was significant for male students only. Students whoare most distressed (rating of 3) have a significantly lower sense of connectedness 274 ,and significantly higher level of anxiety 275 , stress 276 and depression 277 than those whohave little distress; they also have a significantly stronger experience of abuse andassociated distress 278 .3Verymuch267 t=3.18, 811.1 df, p
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTSDrugs, Alcohol, Gambling and SmokingDrugsStudents were asked to indicate their usage of drugs before and since coming toAustralia. This provides information not only about the incidence of drug usage, butalso about any changes in the pattern of drug usage with relocation to Australia. Adistinction was made between soft drugs, such as marijuana, hash and mushrooms,and hard drugs, such as amphetamines, cocaine, heroin and ecstasy. Tables 57 and 58present the results of cross-tabulations for soft and hard drug usage respectively.The vast majority of students have not used soft or hard drugs either at home or inAustralia: 92.5 per cent of respondents in the case of soft drugs and 97.1 per cent ofrespondents in the case of hard drugs. Altogether, 53 students acknowledge soft druguse in Australia, compared with 51 at home, while 25 students say they use hard drugsin Australia, compared with 15 at home.There are indications of changed patterns of drug use accompanying relocation toAustralia. Some 28 students (16 males, 11 females 279 ) have lowered their level of softdrug use, while another 28 students (7 males, 20 females 280 ) have increased their softdrug use. Of particular concern are the five students (1 male, 4 females) who havebecome frequent users in Australia.Table 57Soft drug usage before and since coming to Australia (n=970)Soft drug usage before coming to AustraliaSoft drug usage in Australia Not at all Seldom Sometimes FrequentlyNot at allNumberPercentage89792.5131.370.700SeldomSometimesFrequentlyNumberPercentageNumberPercentageNumberPercentage161.660.600The pattern of change seen in hard drug use is of greater concern. Although fewstudents are involved, eight (2 males, 6 females) have maintained their existing patternof use, 15 (8 males, 6 females 281 ) have increased their use, and only five (2 males, 3females) have lessened their use. Thirteen students (6 males, 6 females 282 ) who did not usehard drugs at home have become hard drug users here. Three students (two males, 1female) have become frequent users in Australia.101.010.120.250.570.730.320.210.100279 The gender of the other student is not recorded.280 The gender of the other student is not recorded.281 The gender of the other student is not recorded.282 The gender of the other student is not recorded.Russell, Rosenthal & Thomson, 2006 82
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