凤凰心理百科

留学生孤独感

Loneliness among international students

最近更新 2026年3月26日

留学生孤独感是指在海外学习期间,主观上感到与周围人的联系不足、缺少归属和可依靠关系的痛苦体验,常表现为明明身边有人却仍然连不上。

什么是留学生孤独感

孤独感首先是一种主观体验,而不是单纯的客观人数问题。一个人即使身边并不缺同学、室友或社交活动,也可能因为缺少有意义的连接、缺少被理解和可依靠的关系,而持续感到孤单。与此相对,社会孤立更强调客观上关系和互动的稀少,两者经常重叠,但并不完全相同。3

在留学场景中,孤独感还需要与想家和文化适应压力区分。想家更多围绕对家人、熟悉环境和原有生活节律的思念;文化适应压力则是更宽的跨文化负荷,除了孤独感,还包括语言障碍、规则不熟悉、学业压力和歧视经历。孤独感常是其中最痛的部分之一,但并不等同于全部适应问题。45

常见表现与功能后果

留学生孤独感常表现为一种持续的疏离和落空感。学生可能表面上仍在上课、完成作业、参加聚会,但内在一直觉得自己没有真正进入关系网络,或者始终处在边缘位置。常见伴随表现包括情绪低落、对社交结果持悲观预期、主动联系减少、长时间沉浸于手机、短视频和网络、回避面对面的互动,以及因孤独本身产生羞耻感。67

如果这种状态长期持续,后果往往不止于“心情不好”。公共卫生资料显示,孤独感和社会连接缺失与抑郁、焦虑、自伤和自杀风险上升有关,也会损害睡眠、注意力、日常功能和生活质量。对留学生而言,这类影响常先体现在课堂参与下降、作息紊乱、拖延增加、逃避社交和对继续留学的动摇上。89

为什么留学生更容易陷入孤独感

留学生之所以更容易陷入孤独感,关键不在于“一个人出国”,而在于原有支持系统突然中断,同时新的支持系统建立得很慢。语言障碍、课堂和生活规则不熟悉、交友节奏差异、学业负担,以及在校园或社区中遭遇的歧视体验,会共同削弱一个人建立稳定关系的能力和意愿。1011

已有研究提示,社会支持的来源并不等价。来自当地同学、学校和在地环境的支持,更有助于减少被排斥感并促进适应;如果长期缺乏这类连接本地环境的支持,学生即使保留了与家人或同文化朋友的联系,也仍可能在现实生活中感到孤立。社会文化适应能力越弱,心理困扰通常越明显。1213

保护因素

最稳定的保护因素之一是可持续的社会支持,但支持的质量和方向很重要。研究提示,朋友支持、学校支持以及与当地人的联结,往往比单纯增加社交数量更关键;它们能够降低跨文化压力、减轻被排斥感,并为学生提供现实层面的信息、陪伴和反馈。来自家庭和同文化圈的支持则更像情绪缓冲,能够减少漂泊感,但未必足以替代在地归属。1415

除外部支持外,安全感、归属感和较高的自我效能也有保护作用。相关研究显示,归属感越稳,文化适应压力越低;而较高的心理掌控感能够降低对歧视的敏感度,并减少因孤独而产生的羞耻和自我污名。这些因素虽然不能消除环境困难,但会影响孤独感是否被长期内化。1617

与想家、文化适应压力、抑郁和社交焦虑的区分

想家通常围绕对家庭、饮食、语言和日常节律的思念,很多人在适应初期都会出现;文化适应压力则覆盖更广,既包括语言和学业负担,也包括对规则、身份和人际方式的重新学习。留学生孤独感的核心问题更集中在关系质量和归属感不足,也就是“身处人群中却没有真正连上”。18

抑郁障碍和社交焦虑障碍属于更完整的临床问题。孤独感常与抑郁、焦虑并存,也会增加这些问题的风险,但它本身并不等于临床诊断。若一个人已经出现持续的快感缺失、明显绝望、自我评价显著下降,或者长期因为害怕被评价而回避大多数社交情境,就需要进一步评估是否已合并抑郁或社交焦虑,而不能只归因为“还没适应”。1920

评估与何时需要求助

评估留学生孤独感时,不能只看“有没有朋友”。更需要了解过去几个月里关系网络是否明显缩窄、是否总觉得自己在旁观而非参与、是否长期依赖网络替代现实接触、是否因为担心语言或评价而避免进入关系,以及睡眠、出勤、学习效率和自我照顾是否已经受影响。对中国留学生来说,长期报喜不报忧、把痛苦全部压成疲劳和失眠,也值得警惕。21

如果孤独感已经持续数周到数月,伴随明显功能下降、睡眠和食欲持续恶化、强烈无价值感,或者出现自伤、自杀想法,就不宜再把它理解为普通适应期反应。此时应尽快联系学校心理咨询、当地医疗系统或其他专业支持资源。2223

干预与日常支持

现有干预证据提示,更有效的做法通常是把心理教育、认知行为成分、适应训练和持续支持结合起来。系统综述与元分析发现,包含认知、情绪调节和问题解决内容的心理教育项目,更有助于降低跨文化压力并提升适应;同伴配对、导师制度和文化交流活动则能改善融入感,并帮助学生与本地环境建立更稳定的连接,适合作为长期支持结构。2425

日常支持的重点,是把“偶尔见人”变成“稳定连接”。比起泛泛鼓励多社交,更有效的做法通常包括:保留与家人和旧友的规律联系;减少长期回避;参加小规模、可重复进入的活动场景;主动使用学校的语言支持、学术支持和咨询资源;在需要时接受正式心理治疗。2627

海外如何获取帮助

多数海外高校设有免费心理咨询中心(Counseling Center)可直接预约。如已经毕业或校内咨询无法满足需要时,可通过当地医生/全科医生(GP)转介至精神科或心理治疗专科。

凤凰学者(phoenixscholars.com)为海外留学生提供中文在线心理服务。团队涵盖国内头部三甲医院精神科知名专家、精神科医生及注册心理咨询师,支持跨时区预约,全程母语沟通。

紧急求助

如出现自伤、自杀想法或正处于严重精神危机中,请立即拨打当地急救电话或以下热线:

  • 美国:988;中文服务 Asian LifeNet 1-877-990-8585
  • 英国:116 123(Samaritans)
  • 澳大利亚:13 11 14(Lifeline)
  • 加拿大:988
  • 中国大陆:北京心理危机研究与干预中心 +86-10-82951332(24 小时)

如已发生自伤、服药过量或医疗紧急情况,请立即前往最近的急诊科或拨打当地急救电话(美国 911、英国 999、澳大利亚 000)。

参考来源

  1. 1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness. Updated May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html返回
  2. 2Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. 2023. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf返回
  3. 3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness. Updated May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html返回
  4. 4Perceptions of the Sense of Security, Belonging, and Acculturative Stress among International Students in China during COVID-19 Outbreak—An Empirical Analysis. Healthcare. 2023;11(8):1202. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/8/1202返回
  5. 5Xie L, Xu Y. Factors associated with mental health of Chinese international students in the global context: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2025;25:3460. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-025-24400-w返回
  6. 6Impact of the sense of power on loneliness among international students in China: the chain mediating role of perceived discrimination and loneliness stigma. BMC Psychology. 2024;12:784. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11670340/返回
  7. 7Xie L, Xu Y. Factors associated with mental health of Chinese international students in the global context: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2025;25:3460. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-025-24400-w返回
  8. 8Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness. Updated May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html返回
  9. 9Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. 2023. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf返回
  10. 10Xie L, Xu Y. Factors associated with mental health of Chinese international students in the global context: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2025;25:3460. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-025-24400-w返回
  11. 11Harahap N, Lubis R, Loebis B. Social Support and Acculturative Stress of International Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(11):6568. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9180523/返回
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  13. 13The role of social support and sociocultural adjustment for international students' mental health. Scientific Reports. 2023;13:893. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9843659/返回
  14. 14Harahap N, Lubis R, Loebis B. Social Support and Acculturative Stress of International Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(11):6568. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9180523/返回
  15. 15The role of social support and sociocultural adjustment for international students' mental health. Scientific Reports. 2023;13:893. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9843659/返回
  16. 16Perceptions of the Sense of Security, Belonging, and Acculturative Stress among International Students in China during COVID-19 Outbreak—An Empirical Analysis. Healthcare. 2023;11(8):1202. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/8/1202返回
  17. 17Impact of the sense of power on loneliness among international students in China: the chain mediating role of perceived discrimination and loneliness stigma. BMC Psychology. 2024;12:784. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11670340/返回
  18. 18Perceptions of the Sense of Security, Belonging, and Acculturative Stress among International Students in China during COVID-19 Outbreak—An Empirical Analysis. Healthcare. 2023;11(8):1202. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/8/1202返回
  19. 19Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness. Updated May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html返回
  20. 20Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. 2023. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf返回
  21. 21Xie L, Xu Y. Factors associated with mental health of Chinese international students in the global context: a systematic review. BMC Public Health. 2025;25:3460. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-025-24400-w返回
  22. 22Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness. Updated May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html返回
  23. 23Office of the U.S. Surgeon General. Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. 2023. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf返回
  24. 24Aljaberi MA, Alsalahi A, Juni MH, et al. Efficacy of Interventional Programs in Reducing Acculturative Stress and Enhancing Adjustment of International Students to the New Host Educational Environment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(15):7765. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8345801/返回
  25. 25The role of social support and sociocultural adjustment for international students' mental health. Scientific Reports. 2023;13:893. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9843659/返回
  26. 26Harahap N, Lubis R, Loebis B. Social Support and Acculturative Stress of International Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;19(11):6568. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9180523/返回
  27. 27Perceptions of the Sense of Security, Belonging, and Acculturative Stress among International Students in China during COVID-19 Outbreak—An Empirical Analysis. Healthcare. 2023;11(8):1202. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/8/1202返回