Foreign students’ status of autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life; and association of all these with using library as a third/ community place

Authors

Waqar Ahmad Awan Dr., Department of Information Management, University of Sargodha, SargodhaFollow
Saira Hanif Soroya Dr., Department of Information Management, University of the Punjab, LahoreFollow

Date of this Version

2-28-2021

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The study was aimed at investigating the status of six domains of the psychological well-being of foreign students studying in Pakistani University comprising five campuses. Additionally, the association of the purpose of using library (as community/ third place or study room), and the length of time spent there on the psychological well-being of foreign students was also estimated. These independent variables were added to the study based on previously published literature. A quantitative approach and survey technique were used to carry out the study. Data were collected from foreign students of a public sector engineering university that has five campuses and libraries at different geographical locations across Pakistan. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, post hoc Tukey test, Cohen’s d and Eta Squared Values calculation.

Findings of the study indicate that only 12% of the foreign students visited the library while taking it as a third/community place. They were found significantly better in the domain of environmental mastery than their counterparts. The female foreign students indicated significantly lower autonomy, personal growth, and purpose in life than the male students. The students who indicated a higher library visit frequency were found significantly better in positive relations and self-acceptance.