ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how determinants of mental health, including stress and Type D personality, are associated with maladaptive health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity among international students. Beside chronic psychological distress, other problems related to mental health that have been reported among international students include anxiety, depression, feelings of homesickness, helplessness, and self-disappointment. Mental health status was evaluated using the Perceived Stress Scale, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and Denollet's Type D Personality Scale. The chapter provides information about each scale and how the instrument was scored and interpreted. It also explores how determinants of the mental health of international students were associated with risky health behaviors. Alcohol intake was significantly higher only among individuals classified as being Type D/NA, compared to individuals in the Non-Type D group, and was not significantly different for any other mental health condition.
