‘I have to think about what’s next’: a qualitative exploration of psychological well-being and self-management with humour among domestic and international university students

Psychological well-being and self-management are essential for university students, particularly for international students facing additional challenges. Humour is under-explored as a strategy in cross-cultural university settings. We explored how domestic and international students perceive and self-manage their psychological well-being, focusing on humour. Drawing on the extended Common-Sense Model, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 students from a UK university. Reflexive thematic analysis identified three themes: meaning of psychological well-being – a holistic approach, humour as an emotional and social function, and self-managing psychological well-being in practice. Personal development and cultural adaptation were key concerns. Students engaged in varied self-management strategies, with humour serving as a social and emotional resource, though often used unconsciously rather than intentionally. Findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive support and greater awareness of humour as a coping resource. They also suggest psychological well-being initiatives be integrated with educational strategies to enhance retention and achievement in diverse student populations.