Dataset Information

Social media use, social identification and cross-cultural adaptation of international students: A longitudinal examination.

ABSTRACT: The mobility experience is an important life event for international students, and achieving successful psychological and sociocultural adaptation is crucial for this experience to be positive. Through a three-wave longitudinal study among international students enrolled at universities in Spain, Portugal, and Poland (n = 233), we examined the relationships between social media use, social identification, and (sociocultural and psychological) adaptation across time. Results of cross lagged panel modeling (CLPM) showed that social media contact with home nationals predicted greater identification with this group. Social media contact with host country nationals predicted poorer adaptation. Social media contact with other international students did not show any effects, while identification with this group predicted better adaptation. Our results point to the dynamic nature of the adaptation process, showing that the role of social media use and identification targeted at different social groups may play different roles than was previously found in cross-sectional research.

SUBMITTER: Gaitan-Aguilar L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9685662 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Social media use, social identification and cross-cultural adaptation of international students: A longitudinal examination.

Gaitán-Aguilar Leonor L Hofhuis Joep J Bierwiaczonek Kinga K Carmona Carmen C

Frontiers in psychology 20221110

The mobility experience is an important life event for international students, and achieving successful psychological and sociocultural adaptation is crucial for this experience to be positive. Through a three-wave longitudinal study among international students enrolled at universities in Spain, Portugal, and Poland (<i>n</i> = 233), we examined the relationships between social media use, social identification, and (sociocultural and psychological) adaptation across time. Results of cross lagge ...[more]

PMID: 36438408

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Project description:This article examined the interaction of social media use and physical activity with mental health outcomes in a cultural and regional perspective among university students in China. Among 1,500 students from ten universities across different regions of China, stratified random sampling was used to complete the validated measures of social media use, physical activity, depression, anxiety, sleep quality, and cultural values. Significantly positive associations were revealed between the use of social media and both depressive symptoms, r = .28, p ≤ .001, and anxiety, r = .31, p ≤ .001. In female students, this association was stronger, r = .34, p ≤ .001. Regarding physical activity as associated with a lower risk for mental health problems, the association was β =-0.18, p ≤ .001, occurring more strongly when social media use was at a high level. Sleep quality accounted for 30.4% of the relationship between social media use and depression. Cultural values, particularly individualism/collectivism, moderated these associations: β = -0.14, p < .01, such that collectivistic values buffered against negative effects. There were significant regional differences: Western Chinese participants reported more frequent use of social media (M = 4.2, SD = 0.8), but less physical activity (M = 1890 MET-min/week, SD = 1100) than Western participants. More importantly, females reported a higher level of social media use (M = 4.2, SD = 0.9), while males had higher levels of physical activity (M = 2486 MET-min/week, SD = 1342). These findings indicate that gender-specific, culturally tailored interventions are necessary that embed physical activity promotion into strategies aimed at promoting digital wellness. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of digital wellness and extends evidence-based insights into the development of targeted mental health interventions among Chinese university students.

Dataset Information

Social media use, social identification and cross-cultural adaptation of international students: A longitudinal examination.

Publications

Social media use, social identification and cross-cultural adaptation of international students: A longitudinal examination.

Similar Datasets

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