Factors impacting the psychological adjustment of Saudi Arabian international students in the United States: Self-esteem, social support, and discrimination

International populations face difficulties adjusting to a new culture. This is especially true for international students, who have to adjust to a new country and face academic demands concurrently. Research has explored various factors that impact psychological adjustment of international students and show the influence of self-esteem and social support. Discrimination has also been shown to affect psychological well-being. While valuable research has been conducted, literature lacks information on certain groups, such as Saudi Arabian students in the United States. This study explores the current research on the psychological adjustment of Saudi Arabian students and the impacts of self-esteem, social support, and discrimination. The researcher conducted a literature review and interviews with seven Saudi Arabian Students in the United States. The results indicate that social support and self-esteem, among other factors, impact the psychological adjustment of the Saudi Arabian international students interviewed. Discrimination was often denied as altering participants' experiences.