Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41545960›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2026

Unequal burdens: a scoping review of key social determinants of health affecting wellbeing of international vs. domestic students.

Nadia Farnaz, Taylah Scutts, Gantsetseg Ganbold, Putu Novi Arfirsta Dharmayani, Rimante Ronto, Seema Mihrshahi

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Nadia FarnazDepartment of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Wallumattagal Campus Macquarie Park, Level 5, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia. nadia.farnaz@hdr.mq.edu.au.
Taylah ScuttsDepartment of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Wallumattagal Campus Macquarie Park, Level 5, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
Gantsetseg GanboldDepartment of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Wallumattagal Campus Macquarie Park, Level 5, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
Putu Novi Arfirsta DharmayaniDepartment of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Wallumattagal Campus Macquarie Park, Level 5, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
Rimante RontoDepartment of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Wallumattagal Campus Macquarie Park, Level 5, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
Seema MihrshahiDepartment of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Wallumattagal Campus Macquarie Park, Level 5, 75 Talavera Road, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe wellbeing of university students has become a significant concern globally. This scoping review aimed to explore key social determinants of health, such as food insecurity, housing issues, social isolation, and psychological distress and how it affects the overall experiences and wellbeing of university students. The review included studies comparing the experiences of international and domestic students to highlight unique challenges faced by each group.

methodsThis scoping review followed the first five stages of Arksey and O'Malley's framework and used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. A comprehensive search was conducted across Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, focusing on studies published between 2014 and 2024. The inclusion criteria targeted research on international students in comparison to domestic students addressing food insecurity, housing issues, social support, psychological distress and wellbeing. A total of 23 studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool. Data were extracted and synthesised using a narrative approach.

resultsThe review identified that international students are particularly vulnerable to psychological distress due to combined influence of other key social determinants of health. Social isolation was identified as a critical factor, with international students reporting higher levels of loneliness and lack of social support compared to domestic counterparts. Food insecurity significantly impacts both domestic and international students, with international students experiencing higher levels of anxiety and depression due to limited access to affordable food and support networks. Housing issue affect stress and mental health, particularly among international students who face additional barriers such as cultural adjustments and unfamiliarity with local housing markets. The interconnectedness of these factors intensifies their impact, resulting in poorer wellbeing among international students compared to domestic students.

conclusionsThis review highlights the critical need for targeted interventions to address food insecurity, housing issues, social isolation and psychological distress among university students, particularly international students. Comprehensive support systems and tailored policies are recommended, and future research is needed to develop and evaluate solutions for these challenges to improve student wellbeing.

Indexed as

InternationalitySocial Determinants of HealthStudentsFood InsecurityHousingHumansPsychological DistressPsychological Well-BeingSocial IsolationStress, PsychologicalUniversitiesDomestic studentsFood insecurityHigher educationHousingInternational studentsPsychological distressSocial determinants of healthSocial isolationWellbeing

Identifiers

PMID41545960
PMCPMC12895619

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.