Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology Elham Vaez, Rumaya Juhari, Siti Nor Yaacob

Vol. 4, No. 1, 2015

Addressing the Problems Faced by Married International Students

Elham Vaez (Corresponding author)

Department of Human Development & Family Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology,
University Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
(Corresponding author) elham.v@[Link]

Rumaya Juhari
Department of Human Development & Family Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology,
University Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

Siti Nor Yaacob

Department of Human Development & Family Studies, Faculty of Human Ecology,
University Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract
In recent decade, there has been an increasing rate of international students all over the world,
but little is known about the marital life of this population. The need to understand graduate
students’ intentions to pursue an academic career has become more important over the years.
While International students’ cross-cultural adjustment has received considerable attention
in the sojourner literature, there is a paucity of research that addresses the unique challenges
faced by the married international students. Therefore, this study attempts to examine the
empirical findings of various studies that explore factors which contribute to problems of
married international students, and have an integrated perspective on the problems that this
population faces during their study. The results revealed that acculturation stress, financial
stress and social support are the utmost problems that international couples experience. This
study offers suggestions for universities to provide facilities that would decrease international
students’ marital problems; also to prepare workshops to increase couples’ knowledge of
different conflict resolution methods which would be helpful to avoid conflict during their
study abroad.
Keywords: marital relationship, international students, socio cultural adjustment, academic
problem

Introduction that impact married international students, in

order to help their marriage and their educational
To date, many researches are carried out on
journey to head in a right direction.
international students in various contexts and
concepts. International students are different in International students are defined as “a group
many aspects such as cultural background, level in transition who live in a foreign country to
of degree, marital status, their ability to adapt to pursue their educational goals” (Ye, 2006), in
the environment, and cope with stressful events. other words, international students with various
It is essential to find the most important issues cultures and lifestyles come from different

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Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology Elham Vaez, Rumaya Juhari, Siti Nor Yaacob
Vol. 4, No. 1, 2015

countries to continue their education in higher marital distress, that may influence their marital
levels (Bektaş, 2008; Lin, 2010; Sovic, 2009). relationship outcomes (Brannock and Litten et
During their study, these students face many al., 2000; Gold, 2006).
pressures in the new environment (Ataca and
Berry, 2010). They have to adjust themselves
Married International Students
to different ways of living and learning, adopt
to a new culture and lifestyle, and manage the Successful marriage brings meaning to the life
requirements of graduate study (Goff, 2004; of couples, and also act as a protective factor
Gold, 2006; Katz, Monnier et al., 2000; Kline against the stresses that spouses experience
and Liu, 2005). Some studies (Rosenthal and in their life (Fincham and Beach et al., 2007).
Russell et al., 2008; Ryan and Twibell, 2000) Marital relationships is defined as a union
reported that the issues international students between two people, and it includes elements
face include, but are not limited to, adjustment of happiness, intimacy, and commitment
to a different culture (J. Lee and Rice, 2007; (Amidu, Owiredu et al., 2011). Therefore, a
Sherry and Thomas et al., 2010; Wa-Mbaleka, strong marital relationship brings meaning to
2014); being far from family and friends, and the life of couples and benefits the family unit
maintaining personal identity (Salehy and and society (Fincham et al., 2007; Orathinkal
Zuria et al., 2013); a new educational system and Vansteenwegen, 2006). Conversely, marital
(Wa-Mbaleka and Ryszewski, 2012); financial issues, which consist not only of conflict but also
challenges (Sherry et al., 2010; C. J. Yeh and discord and dissatisfaction, can have a prevalent
Inose, 2003); communication struggles in a new impact on family activities, couples’ health, well-
language (Wa-Mbaleka et al., 2012); culture being, and quality of life. Marital relationship
shock (Sherry et al., 2010; Ward and Bochner and satisfaction with marriage are key factors
et al., 2001; Yuefang Zhou, Jindal-Snape et al., for having satisfaction in life, especially for
2008); sociocultural stresses (Myers-Walls, Frias international students that are struggling with
et al., 2011); some level of depression (Dao and a new environment (Gold, 2006). As Brannock
Lee et al., 2007); and a feeling of isolation and et al. (2000) stated, family is a significant and
loneliness (Marx, 1999; O’Reilly and Ryan et al., effective factor for being successful in different
2010). These are some of the several challenges life situations such as education(Memon, Salleh
that international studentsmay individually face et al., 2014).
during their study in foreign country.
Although immigration to a foreign country to
These challenges may also have different impact pursue higher goals in life is related to a person’s
on the marital relationship of international growth, it is also associated with a series of
students and their family’s lifestyle (AlHorany inconveniences (Shekarchizadeh, 2011). In
and Hassan, 2011), in addition, married students this regard, many researchers stated that socio-
experience different kinds of stressors, such as cultural and psychological stresses are related

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Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology Elham Vaez, Rumaya Juhari, Siti Nor Yaacob
Vol. 4, No. 1, 2015

to moving to a new country and adapting to a conducted on different geographical, cultural,

new context (Goff and Carolan, 2013; Myers- and contributing factors on the issues confronted
Walls et al., 2011). Immigration causes conflict by married international students. Following are
in marriage (Darvishpour, 2002), and marital the specific issues cited by researchers that need
problems of international students can make their to be considered.
lives more difficult in the new country (Salehy et
Different factors such as ethical, cognitive,
al., 2013).
interactive, emotional, and social elements
Married immigrants confront new experiences effect married international students’ quality of
that may bring difficulties of adapting to a marital relationship. Married graduate students
new environment and lifestyle, which could confront marital hardships during their study,
increase the probability of divorce (Akbari, which influence their success in different aspects
2008; Asadinik, 2009; Darvishpour, 2002). For of life such as their course of study, adjustment
example, Mahdi (1999) reported that among the to the new culture and their marital relationship
Iranian couples who immigrated to the USA, (Gold, 2006). As studies demonstrate, marital
about 66% of the marriages will end in divorce. relationship of married international students
Although there is no report of divorce among may change while they are experiencing the
international students, the result of immigrant’s difficulties in facing the new culture (Myers-
divorce present an evidence for this population. Walls et al., 2011; Yu Zhou, 2000). They
experience psychological pressures in their
In this regard, in order to provide facilities
marital relationships during adjustment processes
that would decrease the marital problems of
(Ataca et al., 2010; Ben-David and Lavee, 1994;
married international students, it is significant to
Goff, 2004; Katz et al., 2000; Kline et al., 2005;
understand the main problems that they face in
Negy, 2003). Researchers claimed that the most
their marriage. Thus, the aim of this study is to
common stressors are related to money, work,
shed lights on the challenges and hardships felt
and the time spent away from spouse, as a person
by married international students.
who is both student and married does not have
enough time to spend with their spouse, on the
Review on problems faced by married interna­ other hand, the lack of positive communication
tional students leads them to have more issues as they do not
talk over their stressors to decrease them (Alayi
In this study, the review of the related literature and AhmadiGatab et al., 2011; Fuenfhausen and
encompasses studies on married international Cashwell, 2013; Gold, 2006; Katz et al., 2000;
students from a global perspective. The literature Negy, 2003). These studies also stated that
presented is a combination of recent studies financial strain, psychological stress, relationship
and previous studies carried out by notable conflict and sexual dissatisfaction are other
experts in the field. Various studies have been problems faced by married international students.

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Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology Elham Vaez, Rumaya Juhari, Siti Nor Yaacob
Vol. 4, No. 1, 2015

Madanian and Mansor et al. (2013) revealed be substantiated by de Snyder (1987) findings
that financial problems, children education, in a sample of immigrant women. Emotional
commitment, and intimacy were essential factors support from one’s partner was significantly and
that effected the level of marital satisfaction negatively related to depressive symptomatology
among international students. Similarly, Salehy whereas social support from outside sources was
et al. (2013) stated that the challenges that not. These points to the weight of direct partner
married international students faced as being support are the most important contributor to the
immigrants are categorized into psychological well-being of accompanying spouses and marital
adaptation, socio-cultural adaptation, financial health (Poyrazli et al., 2010). In this regard,
issues and marital conflict. Fuenfhausen et al. several studies found that the married couples
(2013) demonstrated that changes in family tend to be more satisfied with their life in foreign
and lifestyle have negative impact on marital countries due to spouse’s support, also they are
relationship of international students. Also, Alayi better adjusted compared to a single international
et al. (2011) reported that married university students (Selmer, 2001; Selmer and Suutari et al.,
students experience difficulty with children. In 2011; Van Oudenhoven and Mol et al., 2003). As
this regard, Quinn (2002) addressed specific married students’ intention is positively related
behavioural patterns in marital relationships of to their adjustment (Gregersen and Black, 1990).
university students which lead to divorce during
Regarding the findings of previous studies
the course of study. These patterns consist of
(Church, 1982; Fuenfhausen et al., 2013;
insufficient support from spouse, lack of positive
Koyama, 2005; Madanian et al., 2013; Mori,
communication, difficulties in adaptation to
2000), financial difficulties have been considered
the new relationship situations. Lack of spouse
as another key stressors for international
emotional support may result in negative
students. Naturally, spouses share the financial
behaviour; conversely, a strong support increases
implications of moving abroad, its impact on
the chance of success in the relationship of
their budget and the likelihood of their marriage
international students (Quinn, 2002). Moreover,
downgrade. Moreover, one of the main stresses
social support has been considered as a barrier
for international married students is studying in
against stress (Poyrazli and Thukral et al., 2010).
postgraduate levels. The impact of stress in post-
Previous researchers have established social
graduation levels on students’ marital satisfaction
support as a positive correlate to emotional
indicates that the stress of postgraduate studies
well-being in international students population,
negatively influences the marital relationship
also they pointed to the relative importance of
of the spouses (Powers, Myers et al., 2004). S.-
social support as a coping strategy during cross-
K. Yeh (2001), found that couples experienced
cultural transitions (Copeland and Norell, 2002;
tension in their marital relationships due to
Da, 2003; E. Lee, 2005; Misra and Crist et al.,
their academic and other adjustment problems.
2003; Poyrazli et al., 2010; Ward et al., 2001).
Gold (2006) reported that graduate education
The importance of an individual’s support can

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Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology Elham Vaez, Rumaya Juhari, Siti Nor Yaacob
Vol. 4, No. 1, 2015

is associated with the negative impacts on the may put more stress on the couple as a unit,
marital structure, also the findings revealed as well as the quality of their marriage. Cross
that married graduate students adapt poorly to cultural literature points to the fact that the level
graduate school as compared to their unmarried of stress that international students encounter
peers. Ott (2004) summarizes these issues: might increase levels of acculturative stress
“for those students with families, the real costs experienced among refugees, which are usually
of graduate school have yet to be calculated reported as being severe (Berry, 1990; Poyrazli
financially, psychologically, or relationally”. et al., 2010). Accordingly, in the study on
Brannock et al. (2000) stated that graduate school Mexican immigrants, Ribeiro (2012) examined
negatively influences the state of marriage due the relation between acculturation stress and
to the high level of stress and challenges, which marital satisfaction. The results showed that
result in high rates of divorce. acculturation stress increases marital distress,
however, having good social and family support
Table 1 will decrease stress and negatively influence
Factors impact married international students. marital distress. Also, Yu, Chen et al. (2014)
revealed that acculturation stress is mostly
-Acculturation stress -Communication
experienced among married students.
-Problem solving skills -Academic Stress
Other findings indicate that different factors
-Financial issues -Lack of time together
influence married international students from
-Psychological stress -Relationship conflict various aspects. AlHorany et al. (2011) revealed
-Social support Intimacy -Sexual dissatisfaction that marital adjustment among postgraduate
students in Malaysia is different between male
-Social adjustment
and female students, it was found that male
adjustment is lower than female, also male
In addition, many researchers insisted that students face more stress compared to female.
cultural differences and challenges of adapting Moreover, nationality has an impact on marital
to a new culture make married international adjustment, with Middle East students having
students’ life more stressful. Cultural difference greater perception of marital adjustment than
can be a main cause of conflicts and distress African and South Asian students. Bigler (2007)
among international couples (Biever and Bobele in an exploratory study of distress among
et al., 1998; Falicov, 1995; Heller and Wood, international students, pointed to the relevance of
2000; Waldman and Rubalcava, 2004), in this marital satisfaction as a salient factor for the cross-
regard, studies found a relationship between cultural adjustment, also marital satisfaction was
cultural differences and marital satisfaction or established as a moderator between acculturative
marital quality (Kim, Edwards et al., 2012; Negy stress and psychological distress. Zhang, Smith et
and Snyder, 2000). The cross-cultural transition al. (2011) found out that the wife of international

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Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology Elham Vaez, Rumaya Juhari, Siti Nor Yaacob
Vol. 4, No. 1, 2015

students felt closer to their husbands as they better to the needs of this population, and prepare
have more time to spend together, also spouse’s a supportive environment. Also, this study may
support was a key factor which contributes to help Family Health Centres (FHC) to come up
the wife’s positive perspective and feeling of with better ways of avoiding dissatisfaction
satisfaction toward their marriage. In a similar of marriage, and decreasing the divorce rate
study, Poyrazli and Kavanaugh (2006) reported among international students. Regarding the
that married international students encounter expected stress in graduate schools, and to
lower social adjustment strain as they fulfil their increase the marital satisfaction among spouses,
social support and commitment at home. universities need to provide support [Link]
addition, the results of this study provide help
for university counsellors and psychologists
Conclusion who work with international students specially
the married ones. Informing couples about
To conclude, this paper highlighted the challenges issues that they might confront, and teaching
and stressors that married students faced. Review them different ways to cope with stressors in
of the previous research on this phenomenon a new environment can predict tensions and
revealed the negative effect of stresses caused by conflicts in their marriage, which may lead their
immigration and graduate education on marital relationship to be trustworthy, intimate and
health of married international students. On the supportive. Furthermore, teaching the skills of
other hand, as researchers reported, marriage positive communication regarding their stresses
was shown to serve as one of the most important and problems can solve their issues before it can
factors that decreases stress and enhances social influence their entire marriage and relationship.
and cultural adjustment among sojourners Moreover, strong support from the spouse helps
(Chang and Sanna et al., 2003; Poyrazli et al., couples to better confront difficulties in the
2006; Snyder, 1997; Yi and Giseala et al., 2003). host country, and adjust themselves to new the
In this regard, keeping a healthy marriage and culture and society. The review of the literature
increasing satisfaction in marriage is an essential highlighted the importance of providing support
task for international students, as the literature and being loved by others as significant factors
revealed, the quality of marriage is affected by which contribute to married international
multiple factors, both internal and external. students’ adjustment in a new environment
(Beach and Gupta, 2006; Mohd Yusof and Jauhar
This review provides recommendation for
et al., 2010; Pasch and Bradbury, 1998).Also
universities and married international students to
marital satisfaction will increase by declining
decrease their strains during their study abroad.
marital conflict (Lee, 2005), in this regard,
The previously mentioned challenges that are
increasing couples knowledge about marital
faced by married international students will help
conflict resolution methods would be helpful
student affairs to understand these issues, respond
to avoid conflict during their study. Kardatzke

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Journal of Educational, Health and Community Psychology Elham Vaez, Rumaya Juhari, Siti Nor Yaacob
Vol. 4, No. 1, 2015

(2009) claimed that the way that graduate married to pursue higher educations all over the world.
students cope with their stresses and conflicts is Despite some promising qualitative studies on
an important factor in their marital satisfaction. married international students, further qualitative
research is needed to explore the experiences
Future studies in this context could benefit from
that married international students gain in their
different perspectives and methodologies to find
life to increase the knowledge of the issues that
more about challenges that married international
they face during their study. Finally, these results
students face during their study, as there is
also suggest that universities should provide
considerable lack of study in the literature. It’s
educational workshops for international married
crucial to concentrate on this population due to
students in order to reduce their marriage
the increasing number of couples immigrating
concerns.

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