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The ways in which people conceptualize and experience psychological distress and well-being are culturally grounded. This study explored conceptualizations of loss, trauma, anxiety, and well-being among international students from Asia living in the United States. Participants ( N = 24) from China, India, and other South Asian countries described community members who experienced a distressing event and were now either functioning well or not well. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze interview data, and 18 identified themes were organized in the following five domains: contextual conceptualizations of well-being and distress, value of distress, social relationships, intrapersonal factors, and other factors contributing to well or poor functioning. Findings highlighted that conceptualizations of well-being and distress not only included intrapsychic states, but were also grounded in social contexts and included the presence or absence of relational support, material resources, physical health, and academic/career achievement. Having social connections with family, friends, and community were considered vital to well-being, and disruptions in these relationships were thought to lead to distress, among other factors. Participants also reported that after experiencing a distressing event, continuing to withdraw from social relationships was an indicator of poor functioning, whereas reengaging with people and with one’s social roles was an indicator of better functioning. These findings contribute to culturally informed understanding of distress and well-being, and culturally sensitive mental health services for international students.

Body image has been widely examined in Western societies such as the United States, yet far less is known about body image in other cultures. A country with a booming plastic surgery industry, which is suggestive of the presence of negative body image, South Korea provides a unique context to study body image. The purpose of this review was to synthesize literature examining body image and related variables in South Korean adult women and identify relevant sociocultural factors and localized perspectives (e.g., Confucianism and gender roles) for understanding body image in South Korean society. Findings generally indicate that many South Korean adult women often experience negative body image, which is associated with adverse functioning. Sociocultural factors including media, social group factors (e.g., respect for others), societal advantages in career and marriage, and general acceptance of plastic surgery seemingly play a role in the importance of achieving ideal beauty standards in South Korean adult women. Limitations of existing literature include lack of attention to sociocultural factors in conceptualization and lack of measures assessing these factors, inconsistency in measuring body image, and the cross-sectional design of all studies reviewed.

Abstract. Studied more extensively in Western societies, body image in other cultures is less researched. South Korea provides a unique context to examine body image given its flourishing plastic surgery industry, which is indicative of negative body image and plastic surgery acceptance. The current study examined whether relevant sociocultural factors in South Korea (i.e., fear of negative evaluation [FNE] and filial piety [FP]) play a role in the association between body image and acceptance of plastic surgery. College students in South Korea ( n = 227) completed self-report measures of body image, FNE, FP, and acceptance of plastic surgery. Students with plastic surgery experience reported greater FNE and acceptance of plastic surgery than those without. Significant negative indirect effects of body image on acceptance of plastic surgery through FNE were found in the full sample. FP was found to moderate the body image-acceptance of plastic surgery link such that for individuals low in FP, lower body areas satisfaction was associated with greater acceptance of plastic surgery. The findings highlight the importance of understanding body image within a cultural context and provide implications for body image concerns in South Korean individuals.

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