Navigating diversity: the emotional toll and educational imperatives of student social interaction in multicultural campuses

In multicultural and multilingual societies, understanding communication dynamics and their impacts is crucial. This study explores the management of communication and social interactions among university students within academic and social contexts. Employing a questionnaire survey method, the research analyses students’ lived experiences concerning communication and social interaction on campus, encompassing their engagement with peers, lecturers, and staff. Specifically, the study focuses on the students’ experience of negative emotions, such as anger, sadness, and disappointment and examines the strategies they employ to address these issues. Additionally, the research investigates the role of social support from friends, family, and the surrounding environment in overcoming communication problems. The study also evaluates the impact of negative emotions on students’ academic performance and social life and identifies the perceived needs for communication education and social interaction skills among students. Based on a survey of 126 students, the study finds that most respondents have experienced negative emotions that negatively affect their social and academic lives. The results also indicate that, although most students have received some form of communication training, there remains a need for more comprehensive communication education, particularly in verbal communication, public speaking, and communication ethics. These findings highlight the importance of developing a more effective communication curriculum to enhance the quality of social interactions on campus.