Keywords
Financial Hardship, International Students, Domestic Students
Abstract
Financial hardship is a well-established predictor of stress and anxiety among college students. However, research is limited on how these stressors differentially affect international and domestic students despite their distinct financial and academic limitations. This cross-sectional study investigates whether international students report higher levels of perceived stress, anxiety, academic pressure, and work demands compared to domestic students. Data were collected online from a sample (n = 200) of college undergraduates. Independent samples t-test indicated no statistically significant differences between international and domestic students across all variables, p > .05. Although domestic students reported slightly higher mean levels of stress, anxiety, academic pressure, and work hours, these differences were small and not statistically meaningful. These findings suggest that both domestic and international students experience similar psychological and academic stress. However, the small international student sample limited statistical power. The results highlight the need for accessible mental health and financial support services for all students and emphasize the importance of future research with larger, more balanced samples.
Thesis Completion Year
2026
Thesis Completion Semester
Spring
Thesis Chair
Jason Chesnut
College
College of Sciences
Department
Psychology
Thesis Discipline
Psychology
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Dias Motta, Vitoria, "Financial Hardship And Its Impact On Stress And Anxiety: A Comparative Study Of International And Domestic Students" (2026). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 573.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/573
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