9. MANTENIMIENTO Y EXPLOTACIÓN DE LOS KIOSCOS
9.6. Sanciones
Age: The present study did not indicate a significant association between age and the prevalence rate of depression. A similar result has been reported by Aghakhani et al. (2011) in a research on students studying in Iran and also by M.K.Wei et al.(2008) in a study on Asian International students (Aghakhani et al., 2011; M. K. Wei et al., 2008). The association of age with homesickness also was not significant in this present study. The correlation of age and the level of homesickness amongst international students also was not seen in previous studies (Karen Kegel, 2009; S. Poyrazli & Lopez, 2007; Christine J Yeh & Inose, 2003).
Gender: Most of the participants were male (112 versus 89). According to the textbooks, the universal observation independent of culture and country indicates that depression in females is twofold greater than in males (Synopses of Kaplan, 2007). However, the studies conducted to assess the association of gender and the level of depression particularly among students have not demonstrated consistent results (A.A.Eslamei et al., 2002; Ahmari 2012; Hadavi & Rostami, 2012; Sidana et al., 2012; M. K. Wei et al., 2008).Similar to Sidana et al.(2012), M.K. Wei et al. (2008),Ghaderi et al. and A.A. Eslami et al. (2002) the present study did not find any significant difference between the rate of depression in female Iranian students and male ones (A.A.Eslamei et al., 2002; Aghakhani et al., 2011; Ghaderi et al., 2009; Sidana et al., 2012; M. K. Wei et al., 2008).
The association of gender with homesickness among international students also was not consistent in different researches (Karen Kegel, 2009; S. Poyrazli & Lopez, 2007; Christine J Yeh & Inose,
86
2003). However, the present study indicated significantly higher rate of homesickness in female Iranian students that may be contributed to Iranians’ socio-cultural background.
Language proficiency:
Sawagler et al.’s (2003) research on Taiwanese students studying in the USA showed that apprehension about their English fluency influenced their adjustment ability (A.A. de Araujo, 2011; Swagler & Ellis, 2003). Yeh et al. (2003) found that English proficiency was an important predictive factor for acculturative distress(A.A. de Araujo, 2011; Christine J Yeh & Inose, 2003). Poyrazli et al (2004) reported less acculturative stress amongst international students with higher fluency in English (A.A. de Araujo, 2011; S. Poyrazli et al., 2004). Apart from the acculturative stress, poor English could be an important reason for poor academic performance and therefore higher distress. Dao et al. (2007) reported higher risk of depression amongst Taiwanese students with poor English fluency studying in American universities (Dao, Lee, & Chang, 2007). However, the present study did not show higher levels of depression and homesickness among students with no English certification or lower IELTS score. The following mentioned items might be the reasons: Some students with a good English knowledge (such as English language PhD students who submitted their master certification) had not participated in IELTS exam because it was not a condition for their enrollment. Some majors might need a higher level of English knowledge than the others. Thus, a student with higher English knowledge may feel more distress in a major than a person with less English proficiency in another major. English is not the maternal language of locals in Malaysia. Therefore, foreign students with intermediate English knowledge in Malaysia may feel less inferiority and less acculturative stress than the student staying in English speaking countries.87
Income: In this study it was also revealed that apart from family’s financial support, most of Iranian students in the University of Malaya were able to work mostly as research assistants and earn money during their study. The mean was RM 1782 (SD= 1467). Inham et al.’s ( 2003) research on medical students studying in a private university in Pakistan did not demonstrate any association between students’ income and their level of depression (Inam et al., 2003). Similarly the present study did not show the association between the level of participants’ income and the level of depression. The reason may be as follow:
1. A young student with no income and being fully financial supported by parents may have less feeling of burden and less distress than an elder student with insufficient income and partial dependency on his parents.
2. Some students with a monthly salary are married with children therefore more income is needed. Thus more distressed will be felt during financial crisis.
3. Some students may have enough investment to cover whole period of their study. Therefore the monthly income might not show the participants’ financial problems.
Marital status: Ildarabady et al.’s (2004) research on Iranian students studying in Iran demonstrated higher rate of depression amongst married students than singles(Ildarabady et al., 2004). However, the research conducted by M.K, Wei on international students did not show association of marital status and level of depression(M. K. Wei et al., 2008).The present study’s result was similar to M.K.Wei et al.’s results.
Length of stay in Malaysia: A study conducted by Sodowsky et al. (1992) demonstrated that the length of stay in the United States could affect the acculturative distress amongst international students. They realized that students who stayed longer than 6 years were able to acculturate
88
significantly better than the students who stayed for a shorter time (Jun, Ball, & Gentry, 1993; Sodowsky & Plake, 1992). Similarly, Wilton and Constantine’s (2003) study showed lower psychosocial stress in students who lived longer in United States(Leo Wilton & Madonna G Constantine, 2003). Trice (2004) found international students with longer stays in the United States had more socialization with local students (Trice, 2004). Fisher reported higher rates of homesickness in students in the first year of the study(Fisher et al., 1985) . In this present study, it was found out that students who only stayed less than six months in Malaysia showed higher rates of depression (4 students out of 5). Otherwise, length of stay was not found as a significant factor for the level of depression and homesickness in other groups (table 5-3). M. K. Wei et al.’s (2008) study’s result was similar to the present study’s result (M. K. Wei et al., 2008).