Determinants of National Identity Among International Students Abroad

Authors

Luca Utassy
Budapest Metropolitan University, Faculty of Business, Communication and Tourism
Dorottya Edina Kozma
University of Pannonia, Faculty of Business
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4948-8815
Gabriela Michalec
Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Economics
Sarolta Ács
Budapest Metropolitan University, Faculty of Business, Communication and Tourism
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3228-1558
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18690/um.epf.7.2026.28

Synopsis

This study examines which factors shape national identity during study abroad, focusing on psychological, social, and institutional mechanisms. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 308 international students studying in Hungary. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine how identity strain, intercultural engagement, host-country evaluations, and institutional satisfaction relate to post-mobility levels of national sentiment, patriotism, nationalism, and collective narcissism. The findings indicate that identity strain variables are the most consistent predictors of nationalism and collective narcissism. In contrast, greater international orientation and interaction with international peers are associated with lower levels of exclusionary national identity, while evaluations of the host country’s political, economic, and social conditions show inconsistent effects. The results suggest that national identity during study abroad is driven primarily by internal identity processes and relational exposure rather than host-country characteristics.

Author Biographies

Luca Utassy, Budapest Metropolitan University, Faculty of Business, Communication and Tourism

Luca has been working as a full-stack marketing professional for many years, with a primary focus on digital and performance marketing. For nearly 10 years, she has been strengthening the teams of educational institutions, while also teaching Search Engine Marketing at Budapest Metropolitan University. She is deeply committed to the well-being of international students, and her research frequently focuses on the experiences and challenges of foreigners.

Budapest, Hungary. E-mail: luca.utassy@gmail.com

Dorottya Edina Kozma, University of Pannonia, Faculty of Business

Kozma Dorottya Edina earned her PhD with an empirical study on sustainable development. Her main research areas include the examination of sustainable development within the European Union, the development of composite indicators based on circular economy and climate change metrics, and national regulatory frameworks related to the legal implementation of ESG in the V4 countries.

Veszprém, Hungary. E-mail: kozma.dorottya.edina@gtk.uni-pannon.hu

Gabriela Michalec, Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Economics

Gabriela earned her PhD in the field of organizational trust. Her research focuses on organizational success, knowledge management, engagement, satisfaction, digitalization, and technostress. Together with her students, she also explores emerging topics such as digital empathy, emotional intelligence, autonomy, and the role of recognition in organizational functioning.

Budapest, Hungary. E-mail: michalec.gabriela@gtk.elte.hu

Sarolta Ács, Budapest Metropolitan University, Faculty of Business, Communication and Tourism

Sarolta has been working in the field of PR and communication for more than ten years, contributing to international brand campaigns and agency projects. Her research examines how artificial intelligence is transforming trust, corporate reputation, and the functioning of the PR profession. She is currently a doctoral candidate at Széchenyi István University and a lecturer at Budapest Metropolitan University.

Budapest, Hungary. E-mail: saci.acs@gmail.com

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Volume

Sustainable Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on ESG, Digital Transformation and Corporate Responsibility

Pages

551-572

Published

July 3, 2026

Categories

Copyright (c) 2026 University of Maribor, University of Maribor Press

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Utassy, L., Kozma, D. E., Michalec, G., & Ács, S. (2026). Determinants of National Identity Among International Students Abroad. In J. Belak & S. Oberman Peterka (Eds.), Sustainable Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on ESG, Digital Transformation and Corporate Responsibility (pp. 551-572). University of Maribor Press. https://doi.org/10.18690/um.epf.7.2026.28