Assessment of the Efficacy of Multicultural Therapy in Reducing Anxiety and Improving the Psychological and Socio-Affective Well-Being of International Students in West Asia

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of multicultural therapy in reducing anxiety and psychological distress and improving social well-being and social performance among international students in West Asia. Methods and Materials: This quantitative study was conducted in two descriptive and quasi-experimental phases. The statistical population consisted of 250 international students studying at Mohaghegh Ardabili University during the 2023–2024 academic year. In the screening phase, 124 students were selected through multistage cluster sampling and completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Keyes Social Well-Being Scale, Hadian-Nasab Social Performance Questionnaire, and Goldberg General Health Questionnaire. Following screening, 30 students who met the inclusion criteria, including a Beck Anxiety Inventory score greater than 17, were selected and randomly assigned to a multicultural therapy group and a wait-list control group, with 15 participants in each group. Both groups completed pretest and posttest assessments. The experimental group received multicultural therapy, whereas the control group received no active intervention during the study period. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance after examining the relevant statistical assumptions. Findings: After controlling for pretest scores, multicultural therapy produced a significant reduction in anxiety compared with the wait-list control condition, F(1, 27) = 44.83, p < .001, partial η² = .624. Significant group differences were also observed in social well-being, F(1, 27) = 35.63, p < .001, partial η² = .569, and social performance, F(1, 27) = 29.73, p < .001, partial η² = .524, with higher adjusted posttest scores in the experimental group. General psychological distress was also significantly lower in the multicultural therapy group, F(1, 27) = 40.25, p < .001, partial η² = .598. Conclusion: Multicultural therapy appears to be an effective culturally responsive intervention for reducing anxiety and psychological distress and enhancing the social well-being and social performance of international students.