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Publication Date
2025
Document Type
Poster
Degree Type
Graduate
Department
Communication
Mentor
Dr. John Baldwin
Keywords
Message framing, international graduate students, health decisions
Abstract
International graduate students in US universities face numerous challenges in the quest to attain higher education while navigating an environment far from home. While significant research has addressed the mental and physical health needs of these students, little attention has been given to how they respond to health messages based on framing, especially within the context of cultural differences. As the United States continues to serve as a prominent destination for international students, it has become increasingly important to address health message framing to meet their unique needs and influence their health-related decisions effectively. This qualitative study explores the impact of message framing on the health decisions of international graduate students at a Midwest university in the United States. Using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with ten participants, the study reveals that the framing of health messages plays a crucial role in how international students perceive and process such messages. Participants expressed a preference for health messages emphasizing potential benefits (gain-framed) over those highlighting potential losses (loss- framed). Additionally, the study found that certain health messages were perceived as irrelevant due to cultural differences between the United States and the participants' home countries.
Recommended Citation
Amissah, Beatrice, "The Role of Message Framing in Influencing Health Decisions Among International Graduate Students at a Midwest University in the United States of America" (2025). University Research Symposium. 494.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/rsp_urs/494
