Recent Research Trends in Student Counseling and Student Support in Taiwan

Abstract

This study reviewed research on student counseling and student support to obtain basic data on recent research trends in Taiwan and in that context makes suggestions for research in Japan. Five research topics were extracted from 43 studies selected from bibliographic databases. These were as follows: the status of student life, factors affecting the mental health of students, promotion of the use of university counseling cen­ters and improvement of counseling services, students’ relationships with their families, and social issues surrounding students. Many studies in Taiwan focused on the adjustment to student life and the promotion of the use of counseling services, both of which were also seen in Japan. But the absence of studies on students with developmental disorders and the fact that many studies were conducted with an awareness of the influence of social and cultural backgrounds were considered to be different from those in Japan. The authors conclude that research focusing on social issues could provide suggestions for studies in Japan. Future research should clarify the differences in subjects of studies conducted in Japan and Taiwan.