How You See Us Hurts Me! Influences of Metastereotypes That International Students Hold on Their Self-disclosure, Loneliness and Depression

Abstract

This article examines the influences of international students’ beliefs of how their compatriots are evaluated by host nationals (i.e. metastereotypes). Modified labeling theory was used to predict how international students’ metastereotypes are associated with their self-disclosure, loneliness, and depression. One hundred and forty-six international students in Japan were asked to rate their metastereotypes, amount of self-disclosure, loneliness, and depression. The results showed that metastereotypes were positively associated with the amount of self-disclosure and negatively associated with loneliness and depression. A structural equation model further indicated that metastereotypes were indirectly associated with depression through loneliness. Theoretical and practical contributions are considered.

Keywords:

• Metastereotype
• international student
• self-disclosure
• loneliness
• depression

Notes

1. Iwao and Hagiwara (1988) found out that Asian international students in Japan felt more stereotyped than those from Western countries. On the other hand, Maruyama (1998) revealed that Western international students in Japan were more treated as “foreigners” than Asian international students. However, this study did not find any difference in perceived metastereotypes between Asian international students and Western international students. Thus, all the participants were included in the analyses.