International Student Perceptions of Wellbeing During Art Museum Visits

Abstract

International student enrollment in the United States is increasing, but international students face barriers to emotional wellbeing due to high levels of stress resulting from academic pressure and isolation. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore international students’ perceptions of their wellbeing during an art museum visit. Twenty-one international graduate students from the University of Washington visited the Henry Art Gallery or the Frye Art Museum and participated in semi-structured, pre- and post-experience interviews. Participants identified positive but modest shifts in feelings of wellbeing due to experiences of distraction and self-reflection. Those who experienced distraction felt that the impact was temporary, but those who were able to reframe current experiences felt the impact on their wellbeing may be longer-lasting. The aspects of the art museum visit that international students perceived as playing a role in their perceptions of wellbeing were the physical space, the content of the art, and the interpretation of the art. These findings highlight the importance of institutional interpretive strategies on the perceptions of wellbeing for international students.