EXPERIENCE OF UKRAINIAN STUDENTS IN SLOVAKIA: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF MISLEADING INFORMATION BETWEEN NEGATIVE EMOTIONALITY AND LIFE SATISFACTION

This paper aims to explore the relationship between the negative emotionality of international students and overall life satisfaction. It also wants to verify the role of information distortion - the frequency of bullshitting - in this relationship. This variable represents a strategy whose goal is to avoid unpleasant consequences or to impress other people. The research was conducted in the second half of 2022 with a sample of 136 Ukrainian students. This makes up about 10% of Ukrainian students studying at the University of Prešov in Slovakia. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant negative relationship between life satisfaction and negative emotionality. There were also significant positive relationships found between life satisfaction and frequency of bullshitting as well as between negative emotionality and frequency of bullshitting. The results confirmed the mediational effect of frequency of bullshitting in the relationship between negative emotionality and life satisfaction. Further research could study information misleading as a manifestation of dysfunctional coping with negative emotions. At the same time, in the process of adaptation of foreign students observe their resilience. Another line of research could address the closedness/openness of international student communities and their correlates. The practical implications of the research are directed towards international student counselling and adaptation programs.