O'Dea, Xianghan (Christine) ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1533-1067 and Stern, Julian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4126-0100 (2022) Cross-Cultural Integration through the Lens of Loneliness: a Study of Chinese Direct Entry Students in the United Kingdom. Qualitative research in education, 11 (3).

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Abstract

This study explores cross-cultural integration of Chinese top-up students in a UK university from the perspective of loneliness. Existing research on integration has underplayed loneliness. This study used semi-structured interviews to collect data at three key transition points during the top-up year. The findings suggest that students experienced loneliness both within and beyond their group, notwithstanding a number of reasons why they might be expected to be less lonely than other international students. Loneliness seemed to have a significant impact on cross-cultural integration, and participants were also unable to form strong bonds within their cohort of Chinese top-up students, and unable to experience healthy solitude. There are implications for the pre-departure preparation of such students, for the institutions hosting such students, and for responses to the social and emotional challenges they experience.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.17583/qre.10205
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General) L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
School/Department:	York Business School
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/7058

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