Leveraging Computer Mediated Communication for Social Support in Immigrants’ Intercultural Adaptation

This study examines the relationship between online social support and intercultural adaptation of immigrants. Data was collected from a telephone survey conducted among Chinese immigrants in Singapore. The results of the data analysis reveal that online support has positive effect on both socio-cultural and psychological adaptation of the immigrants. Among the individual types of support, informational support demonstrates a prominent effect on the immigrants. This study suggests that online support is an efficient and valuable supplement to traditional social support for immigrants, especially when they are in the transition period and lack real life social network.