AUTHOR=Jin Ruining , Wang Xiao 

TITLE=Identity formation and mental health challenges among marginalized Chinese international students in online communities

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1464625

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1464625

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=IntroductionThis qualitative study investigates how Chinese international students adopt marginalization as a coping strategy during the acculturation process, drawing on Self-Determination Theory to examine the underlying psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted via social media voice chat with 12 Chinese international students, enabling an in-depth exploration of their experiences and the formation of distinct identity clusters within online communities.ResultsAnalysis revealed three distinct identity clusters: Gamers, who engage in online gaming to regain competence and social validation; Bachelors, who experience romantic rejection, low self-esteem, and social withdrawal, often substituting intimacy with online pornography; and Dissidents, who adopt a “double dissident” political identity marked by severe political depression, social alienation, and suicidal ideations due to censorship and fear of repercussions.DiscussionThe findings underscore the urgent need for culturally sensitive mental health support and the development of inclusive online platforms that empower marginalized immigrant populations, highlighting the complex interplay between identity formation and coping mechanisms in the digital age.