An Examination of Acculturative Stress, Interpersonal Social Support

“You are not Alone for I am here with You”: An Examination of Acculturative Stress, Interpersonal Social Support and Use of Online Ethnic Social Groups among Chinese International Students

Paper submitted to the Communication and Technology Division of the International Communication Association for presentation at the annual conference, New Orleans, LA.

Acculturative Stress, Interpersonal Network and Use of Online Groups

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Abstract The present study investigated acculturative stress, interpersonal social support and use of online ethnic social groups among Chinese international students. A survey was conducted among 112 Chinese students who attended a southeast university in the United States. The results suggested that those who were more satisfied with their interpersonal social support networks had less perceived discrimination, perceived hatred and negative feelings caused by change, but not less fear. Among the students who had used online ethnic social groups, those who reported receiving higher amounts of online informational support from those groups experienced lower level of acculturative stress. Students who reported obtaining higher amount of online emotional support also experienced lower level of acculturative stress associated with perceived hatred. A negative relationship was established between interpersonal social support network satisfaction and perceived online information support.

Key Concepts: Acculturation, acculturative Stress, social support, Online social groups

Acculturative Stress, Interpersonal Network and Use of Online Groups

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“You are not Alone for I am here with You”: An Examination of Acculturative Stress, Interpersonal Social Support, and Use of Online Ethnic Social Groups among Chinese International Students

Social networks have been found to moderate the effect of stress in predicting depression, hopelessness and even suicidal ideation (Flannery & Wieman, 1989; Yang & Clum, 1994). Social support can...