운동에 참여하는 중국 유학생의 문화적응 스트레스와 사회적 지지, 삶의 질 간의 관계

초록

This study aimed to examine the relationships among acculturative stress, social support, and quality of life among Chinese international students in Korea who participate in physical activity, and to investigate the mediating role of social support in this relationship. A survey was conducted with Chinese international students enrolled in Korean universities, and the collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results are as follows. First, no significant differences were found in acculturative stress, social support, and quality of life according to the level of physical activity participation (regular vs. irregular). However, this finding suggests that physical activity itself, regardless of frequency or regularity, may function as a fundamental protective factor contributing to psychological stability and life adjustment among international students. Second, acculturative stress showed differential effects on social support and quality of life. Cultural shock and perceived discrimination negatively influenced social support, whereas homesickness had a positive effect. In addition, fear and perceived discrimination negatively affected quality of life, while economic concerns showed a positive association. Social support was found to have a positive effect on quality of life. Third, social support partially mediated the relationship between acculturative stress (homesickness and perceived discrimination) and quality of life. This indicates that the impact of acculturative stress on quality of life is not only direct but also indirectly shaped through social relationships and support systems. Overall, this study highlights that physical activity participation itself plays a meaningful role as a baseline resource for international students’ adaptation, and that social support serves as a key mechanism that buffers the negative effects of acculturative stress and enhances quality of life. These findings suggest that universities should not only promote physical activity programs but also create environments that facilitate social interaction and support networks among international students.

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