Separation Anxiety Perspectives from International Graduate Students in Canada

Separation anxiety is a critical problem affecting new immigrant students. This qualitative study delves into the perspectives and experiences of international graduate students in connection with separation anxiety at a small university in Canada. It unveils factors triggering separation. The research will provide recommendations for the identified stressors. The study mainly focused on finding the stressors causing separation anxiety among international students, the effect of separation anxiety on the life of international students, and some recommendations to enhance coping mechanisms. A qualitative approach was used using open-ended questions emailed to ten international graduate university students at a small private university in Canada. Participants were chosen based on purposive sampling from international graduate students in Canada from various cultural backgrounds. Themes in the respondents’ perceptions and experiences were derived. The findings reveal international graduate students experience difficulties regarding academic, professional, physical, and social perspectives. Six out of 10, sixty percent of the respondents experienced physical effects of separation anxiety. All the study respondents reported significant social and behavioral impacts of separation anxiety upon arriving in Canada. Nine respondents, ninety percent of the participants, highlighted stress, anxiety, depression, and nightmares as their major psychological issues. Stress and depression were mainly caused by distress about loved ones left at home and the ability to adjust to new language and cultural environments. All respondents reported academic and occupational challenges because of separation anxiety.