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Statistics:
Studies show significant percentages of international students experience anxiety and depression, with one study finding a range of 2.4-43% for anxiety and 3.6-38.3% for depression. A 2022 survey found that 35% of international students globally reported feeling "always or quite often stressed or anxious," a rise from pre-pandemic levels.
📊 Evidence from Data
📊 Evidence from Data
Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a global program whereby around 600,000 15-year-old students from different countries are put under a two-hour test to gauge their skills and knowledge, mainly in science, reading, and mathematics. PISA test questions don’t gauge memorisation of facts but demand that students draw on real-world problem-solving skills and knowledge.
Results of PISA in 2022: The top six countries/ cities are all from Asia: Singapore, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong. Where for western countries: Australia ranked the 11th, UK ranked 14th and US ranked the 18th (World Population Review 2025)
This data shows how Asia countries excel in academic performances. However, PISA wellbeing data have shown that Asia countries/ cities has lower rate of happiness compared to Western countries.
The data highlights a trade-off. Systems that prioritise academic success may compromise wellbeing, while systems that nurture wellbeing risk falling behind in exam rankings.
Look at the table below for more information⬇️:
🧠 Insights from Psychology
🧠 Insights from Psychology
Achievement Motivation Theory
In Asian systems, students are motivated by fear of failure, driving persistence but also anxiety and perfectionism.
In Western systems, motivation is often intrinsic, driven by interest and personal goals, which protects wellbeing but requires strong self-discipline.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Asian education often pushes students towards esteem through achievement, but neglects wellbeing, belonging, and rest.
Western education fosters belonging and independence, but sometimes lacks the structured esteem-building that exams provide. Psychological research shows that wellbeing is not separate from learning, it is the foundation of motivation and achievement.
Without balance, students are left “unfinished”, successful on paper but struggling internally
Click to understand psychological theories⬆️
🎥 Perspectives from Documentary
🎥 Perspectives from Documentary
BBC Documentary (Are Our Kids Tough Enough?)
When Chinese teachers applied strict teaching methods in UK, students achieved rapid academic gains. However, British students rebel against the Chinese methods. Some are left behind not because they cannot do the work but not accustomed to the excess control and academic stress.
Across sources, a pattern emerges; mental health is not optional. Academic results achieved at its expense are fragile and short-lived.
Educational success should never come at the cost of mental health.
Chinese system need to ease academic pressure and embed wellbeing into their structures.
UK system balance freedom with discipline to maintain motivation.
Several students demonstrates exhaustion of emotions like crying, refuse to participate or backing out. The constant pressure of competition, lack of personal expression, and public ranking contributed to stress and anxiety.
The strongest future lies in integration, combining resilience, discipline, independence, and wellbeing.
Educational success without wellbeing may achieve short-term results, but it risks long-term harm. Students who are mentally healthy not only learn better but also carry resilience into their future careers and lives
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