Green Resilience: Outdoor Physical Activities as Pathways to Psychological Well-being for International Graduate Students in the US

Abstract

Graduate school can be a demanding and isolating experience, especially for international students who face additional challenges such as language barriers, cultural adjustment, and limited social support. Mohammad Jahanary’s research explores how outdoor physical activities can serve as pathways to psychological well-being for international graduate students in the U.S. Guided by the biopsychosocial model, he conducted interviews with 16 students across four universities to understand how these activities impact mental health. Participants reported that outdoor recreation not only improved mood, sleep, and stress management but also fostered a sense of community and belonging. While cost and safety were noted concerns, the overall findings suggest that outdoor and physical activities are affordable, culturally inclusive interventions that promote resilience. Jahanary’s work calls on universities to encourage and facilitate these opportunities—pairing international and domestic students and offering incentives—to build healthier, more connected, and more productive academic communities