The Effect of Second Language Motivation on Depression in International Students: The Mediating Role of Language Preference
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The Effect of Second Language Motivation on Depression in International Students: The Mediating Role of Language Preference

Yifeng Lin 1*
1 Sungkyunkwan University
*Corresponding author: linyifeng@g.skku.edu
Published on 3 September 2025
Volume Cover
LNEP Vol.115
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-329-1
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-330-7
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Abstract

Psychological well-being among international students has received increasing attention. Although some research has indicated a strong correlation between psychological adjustment and second language (L2) motivation, little is known about the links between L2 motivation, language use preference, and mental health. This study surveyed 178 international students and conducted correlation analysis, and mediation analysis. The findings demonstrated a negative correlation between depressed symptoms and the Ideal L2 Self, a subdimension of L2 motivation, and no mediating effect of language preference was observed between L2 motivation and depression. These findings suggest that a strong ideal self in L2 may provide psychological support for international students in multilingual contexts and help alleviate depressive tendencies, offering useful insights for cross-cultural mental health interventions in higher education. Future research could consider increasing the sample size and explore how learning motivation and language preference relate to various mental health indicators. These could offer deeper insights into the mechanisms of cross-cultural adaptation and psychological well-being.

Keywords:

Second Language Motivation, Depression, International Students, Language Preference, Mediator

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Lin,Y. (2025). The Effect of Second Language Motivation on Depression in International Students: The Mediating Role of Language Preference. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,115,55-62.

References

[1]. Dörnyei, Z.: The psychology of the language learner: Individual differences in second language acquisition. Routledge (2014)

[2]. Thompson, A.S.: Language learning motivation in the United States: An examination of language choice and multilingualism. The Modern Language Journal 101(3), 483–500 (2017)

[3]. Lao, T.L.: The Relationship between ESL Learners' Motivation, Willingness to Communicate, Perceived Competence, and Frequency of L2 Use. Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL 20(2), 36–56 (2020)

[4]. Can, A., Poyrazl, S., Pillay, Y.: Eleven Types of Adjustment Problems and Psychological Well-Being among International Students. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research etc, 1–20 (2021)

[5]. Tskhay, K.O.N.S.T.A.N.T.I.N., Nguyen, A.M.D.: Linguistic accent, depression, and anxiety: Concern with linguistic accent predicted psychological maladjustment better than traditionally accepted acculturation variables. Journal of Interpersonal Relations, Intergroup Relations and Identity 4, 46–54 (2011)

[6]. Wu, B., Liu, J.: How language usage affects sojourners’ psychological well-being in a trilingual society: linguistic acculturation of Mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 45(6), 2214–2232 (2024)

[7]. Rubenfeld, S., Sinclair, L., Clément, R.: Second language learning and acculturation: The role of motivation and goal content congruence. Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics 10(3), 309–323 (2007)

[8]. Wang, F., Liu, Y.: Mediating role of resilience in the relationship between English Learners’ Motivation and Well-Being. Frontiers in Psychology 13, 915456 (2022)

[9]. Teimouri, Y.: L2 selves, emotions, and motivated behaviors. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 39(4), 681–709 (2017)

[10]. Taguchi, T., Magid, M., Papi, M.: Iranian Learners of English: A Comparative Study. Motivation, language identity and the L2 Self. 36, 66 (2009)

[11]. Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R.L., Williams, J.B.: The PHQ‐9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine 16(9), 606–613 (2001)

[12]. Marian, V., Blumenfeld, H.K., Kaushanskaya, M.: The Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire (LEAP-Q): Assessing language profiles in bilinguals and multilinguals. Language (2007)

References

[1]. Dörnyei, Z.: The psychology of the language learner: Individual differences in second language acquisition. Routledge (2014)

[2]. Thompson, A.S.: Language learning motivation in the United States: An examination of language choice and multilingualism. The Modern Language Journal 101(3), 483–500 (2017)

[3]. Lao, T.L.: The Relationship between ESL Learners' Motivation, Willingness to Communicate, Perceived Competence, and Frequency of L2 Use. Studies in Applied Linguistics & TESOL 20(2), 36–56 (2020)

[4]. Can, A., Poyrazl, S., Pillay, Y.: Eleven Types of Adjustment Problems and Psychological Well-Being among International Students. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research etc, 1–20 (2021)

[5]. Tskhay, K.O.N.S.T.A.N.T.I.N., Nguyen, A.M.D.: Linguistic accent, depression, and anxiety: Concern with linguistic accent predicted psychological maladjustment better than traditionally accepted acculturation variables. Journal of Interpersonal Relations, Intergroup Relations and Identity 4, 46–54 (2011)

[6]. Wu, B., Liu, J.: How language usage affects sojourners’ psychological well-being in a trilingual society: linguistic acculturation of Mainland Chinese students in Hong Kong. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 45(6), 2214–2232 (2024)

[7]. Rubenfeld, S., Sinclair, L., Clément, R.: Second language learning and acculturation: The role of motivation and goal content congruence. Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics 10(3), 309–323 (2007)

[8]. Wang, F., Liu, Y.: Mediating role of resilience in the relationship between English Learners’ Motivation and Well-Being. Frontiers in Psychology 13, 915456 (2022)

[9]. Teimouri, Y.: L2 selves, emotions, and motivated behaviors. Studies in Second Language Acquisition 39(4), 681–709 (2017)

[10]. Taguchi, T., Magid, M., Papi, M.: Iranian Learners of English: A Comparative Study. Motivation, language identity and the L2 Self. 36, 66 (2009)

[11]. Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R.L., Williams, J.B.: The PHQ‐9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. Journal of General Internal Medicine 16(9), 606–613 (2001)

[12]. Marian, V., Blumenfeld, H.K., Kaushanskaya, M.: The Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire (LEAP-Q): Assessing language profiles in bilinguals and multilinguals. Language (2007)

Cite this article

Lin,Y. (2025). The Effect of Second Language Motivation on Depression in International Students: The Mediating Role of Language Preference. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,115,55-62.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceeding of ICIHCS 2025 Symposium: The Dialogue Between Tradition and Innovation in Language Learning

ISBN: 978-1-80590-329-1(Print) / 978-1-80590-330-7(Online)
Editor: Heidi Gregory-Mina, Enrique Mallen
Conference website: https://2025.icihcs.org/Huntsville.html
Conference date: 17 November 2025
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.115
ISSN: 2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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