Insights into Saudi Female International Students

Transition Experiences

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v10i3.1111

Keywords:

coping resources, Saudi female international students, transition experiences, transition theory

Abstract

This study explored the transition experiences of 10 Saudi female international students when they made the decision to study and live in the United States. The transition theory provided the theoretical foundation for understanding how Saudi female sophomore students progressed through moving to a Midwestern university. Ten in-depth individual interviews followed by a focus group interview with four of the participants elicited their reflections about their transition experiences evolving over time and the coping strategies they employed to facilitate their transition. The themes that emerged from data analysis emphasized the positive experiences of Saudi females in the United States, the importance of fathers’ support, desire to go back to Saudi Arabia upon graduation, and the several resources Saudi females sought other than campus support. 

Author Biography

  • Alia K. Arafeh, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA

    ALIA K. ARAFEH, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor at the Administrative Leadership Department at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Research interests include international students, internationalization of higher education, multiculturalism, globalization, and minority students in higher education institutions.

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Published

2020-11-15

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Research Articles (English)

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How to Cite

Insights into Saudi Female International Students: Transition Experiences . (2020). Journal of International Students, 10(4), 1087-1102. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v10i3.1111