The Influences of Host and Ethnic Internet Use on Sociocultural and Psychological Adaptation among Chinese International Students in the United States: Communication Anxiety and Uncertainty Reduction as Mediators

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Paper Session: Intercultural Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of Internet use on cross-cultural adaptation. A total of 133 Chinese students (N = 133) in the United States participated in this study. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires, including the scales on Internet use, socio-cultural adaptation, psychological adaptation, communication anxiety, and uncertainty reduction. Results indicated that host internet use positively influenced socio-cultural adaptation and psychological adaptation directly, as well as indirectly through communication anxiety and uncertainty reduction. Ethnic internet use, however, was not related to cross-cultural adaptation.

Authors

• Chia-Fang (Sandy) Hsu, University of Wyoming

• Jun Chen, JiangHuai Magazine