Students’ functioning while studying abroad: The impact of psychological distress and loneliness

Previous research has indicated that experiencing stress while traveling abroad is a rather common occurrence. Students studying abroad at Loyola University's Rome Center during the 2004 fall semester and the 2007 spring semester completed surveys, which examined aspects of psychological distress, loneliness, and functioning while abroad. These studies found that students experiencing more psychological distress and more loneliness demonstrated lower levels of functioning while studying abroad and this relationship was found at different time points in the semester. The results of this study should be reviewed by study abroad programs and used to enhance students’ experiences while abroad by providing intercultural training and offering mental health resources for students abroad.