Oral Health-Related Factors and Stress from Cultural Adaptation among Vietnamese Students in Korea

Although the recent rise in the number of foreign students in Korea may have positive cultural and economic effects, the negative effects of stress from cultural adaptation cannot be overlooked. This study investigates the relationship between oral health and stress from cultural adaptation in university life.

In this study, 100 copies of the survey were distributed to Korean and Vietnamese university students each, with response failure rates considered. The survey took place in October 2017 and lasted for 9 days. Excluding the incomplete responses, 80 and 99 survey responses were selected from Vietnamese and Korean students respectively. The results indicated similar levels of satisfaction for oral health care, which were 3.06 ±.959 for Vietnamese students and 3.09 ±.771 for Korean students. The satisfaction rates for their own oral health were 2.85 ±.956 for Vietnamese students and 3.07 ±.961 for Korean students. There was no statistically significant difference, but Korean students had about 1.425 times higher satisfaction rate for their own oral health than Vietnamese students. The statistics for oral health knowledge were 8.28 ± 1.091 for Vietnamese students and 9.18 ±.774 for Korean students. There was a statistically significant difference (p <0.00), with the figure for Korean students being 3.488 times higher than Vietnamese students. The most stressful factor among Vietnamese students in the process of cultural adaptation was ‘Feel the need to learn Korean’ with 3.46 ± 1.31 and the least was ‘Do not feel accepted by Koreans’ with 1.95 ± 0.82. Cultural adaptation stress scores were significantly lower in the group who brushed 3 times daily than in the group who did not. This was statistically significant (p <.05).

The results of this study suggest that it is important to give training on oral health to help Vietnamese students experience oral care services and be informed about it. The administrative support from students’ respective universities will be needed as well.