6. CONCLUSION
6.2. P RACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
mainly afforded by Instagram, which was more frequently used by individuals who find that the platform provides them with esteem and emotional support.
6.2. Practical implications
This study’s findings hold several practical implications. First, the findings may assist universities and organizations to prevent and manage the problems associated with the maladjustment of international students and working expatriates. Indeed, the failure to adjust to new a cultural environment may result in the premature termination of studies or work assignments in the host country (Coperland and Griggs, 1983), which can have long term repercussions such as damaged university or company reputation as well as the loss of business opportunities (Black and Gregersen, 1991). Moreover, the noncompletion of the work or study project in the host country often results in an early return to the home country and lowers the sojourners’ self-esteem (Tung, 1987). Thus, developing a deeper understanding of how platforms such as Facebook and Instagram facilitate the sojourners’ adjustment to Taiwan can help universities that welcome foreign students and organizations that hire expatriates to minimize the difficulties related to maladjustment. They may utilize the findings to develop informational tools that would contribute to ease the cultural transition of international students and foreign employees. Specifically, I advise universities and organizations to implement of Facebook pages dedicated to the provision of detailed information regarding the life in the host country, which they can couple with Instagram accounts. The content shared on Facebook and Instagram should be different but complementary. While the goal of Facebook should be to share practical information (e.g. relating to accommodation, insurance, visas, transportation, cultural norms, work regulations, taxes, etc.) to help sojourners navigate the host country easily, the content shared on Instagram should be more inspirational in nature and centered on leisure (e.g. foods to try, places to visit).
Furthermore, universities and organizations should be mindful of problems such as homesickness and acculturative stress. This study’s findings call up for some caution regarding the use of Instagram to communicate with home country relations. Companies and universities should encourage discussions on such topics and generate awareness through the implementation of workshops or conferences to exchange on the possible homesickness triggered by Instagram use and address its effect on psychological adjustment.
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Secondly, sojourners may utilize the findings to develop a better understanding of the ways in which their own social media use impacts their psychological adjustment. For instance, it would be recommended for sojourners to make use of Facebook to look for information regarding the host country and to moderate the amount of time that they spend consuming the content shared by friends and family on Instagram. Gaining more awareness on the different influences of Facebook and Instagram use on their psychological well-being may incite sojourners to reflect on their social media usage during expatriation and to develop their personal adjustment strategies accordingly.
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Appendix
Survey questionnaire
Hi there!
I am a graduate student in NCCU and I am conducting this survey for my Masters' thesis.
I am looking into the social support gained through social media and its relationship to the adjustment of foreigners in Taiwan.
To thank you for your participation, you will have a chance to win a CASH PRIZE after filling out this survey. Please note that only foreigners (non-Taiwanese) currently residing in Taiwan are eligible to participate in the study and by extension to the cash raffle.
Three winners will be randomly selected from the respondents and will be contacted by email in July.
- 1st prize :1,000 NT$
- 2nd prize: 500 NT$
- 3rd prize: 200 NT$
Filling out this survey should take about 10 minutes. The data collected will stay confidential and will not be used for other purposes than writing my thesis.
Any remark or question? You can email me at [email protected] Thank you for your time, your help is much appreciated!
We will start by asking some general questions about your situation in Taiwan.
1. When did you move to Taiwan?
…..
2. Did you come to Taiwan alone?
(1) Yes (2) No
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3. What are you currently doing in Taiwan?
(1) Exchange program
(2) University degree program
(3) Studying Chinese in a language center (4) Teaching ESL/Other language
4. Where do you currently live in Taiwan?
…….
The next part is about your adjustment in Taiwan.
5. Please tell us whether you agree or disagree with the following statements:
Strongly I am excited about being in
Taiwan.
I feel out of place, like I don’t fit into Taiwanese culture.
I feel sad to be away from my home country.
I am nervous about how to behave in certain situations in Taiwan.
I feel lonely without my friends and family of my home country around me.
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I feel homesick when I think about my home country.
I am frustrated by the difficulties adjusting to Taiwan.
I am happy with my day-to-day life in Taiwan.
The next questions are about your Facebook usage.
6. Do you have a Facebook account?
(1) Yes (2) No
7. How many times per day do you check Facebook?
(1) 1-2 times per day (2) 3-4 times per day (3) 5-6 times per day (4) 7-8 times per day (5) 9+ times per day
(6) On every notification beep
8. On Facebook, how often do you communicate with:
Never Your family and friends back
home?
Your friends and acquaintances based in Taiwan?
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9. Please tell us whether you agree or disagree with the following statements:
Strongly People show that they care about
me on Facebook.
People encourage me when I’m on Facebook.
People pay attention to me on Facebook.
On Facebook, people are interested in me as a person.
People support me on Facebook.
I get positive comments on Facebook.
When I’m on Facebook, people tell me they like the things I say or do.
When I am on Facebook, people make me feel good about myself.
I get likes on Facebook.
On Facebook, people say or do things that make me feel good about myself.
When I’m on Facebook, I talk or do things with other people.
On Facebook, I belong to groups of people with similar interests.
On Facebook, people talk with me about things we have in common.
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On Facebook, I connect with people who like the same things I do.
People can relate to me through things I say or do on Facebook.
On Facebook, people provide me with helpful information.
If I had a problem, people would help me on Facebook by saying what they would do.
On Facebook, people would tell me where to find help if I needed it.
People help me learn new things when I’m on Facebook.
When I’m on Facebook, people help me understand my situation better.
When I’m on Facebook, people help me with school or work.
On Facebook, people help me get things done.
If I needed a hand doing
something, I go on Facebook to find people who will help out.
When I need something, I go on Facebook to find someone who might lend it to me.
When I need a hand with school or work things, I get help from others on Facebook.
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The next questions are about your Instagram usage.
10. Do you have an Instagram account?
(1) Yes (2) No
11. How many times per day do you check Instagram?
(1) 1-2 times per day (2) 3-4 times per day (3) 5-6 times per day (4) 7-8 times per day (5) 9+ times per day
(6) On every notification beep
12. On Instagram, how often do you communicate with:
Never Your family and friends back
home?
Your friends and acquaintances based in Taiwan?
13. Please tell us whether you agree or disagree with the following statements:
Strongly People show that they care about
me on Instagram.
People encourage me when I’m on Instagram.
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People pay attention to me on Instagram.
On Instagram, people are interested in me as a person.
People support me on Instagram.
I get positive comments on Instagram.
When I’m on Instagram, people tell me they like the things I say or do.
When I am on Instagram, people make me feel good about myself.
I get likes on Instagram.
On Instagram, people say or do things that make me feel good about myself.
When I’m on Instagram, I talk or do things with other people.
On Instagram, I belong to groups of people with similar interests.
On Instagram, people talk with me about things we have in common.
On Instagram, I connect with people who like the same things I do.
People can relate to me through things I say or do on Instagram.
On Instagram, people provide me with helpful information.
If I had a problem, people would help me on Instagram by saying what they would do.
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On Instagram, people would tell me where to find help if I needed it.
People help me learn new things when I’m on Instagram.
When I’m on Instagram, people help me understand my situation better.
When I’m on Instagram, people help me with school or work.
On Instagram, people help me get things done.
If I needed a hand doing
something, I go on Instagram to find people who will help out.
When I need something, I go on Instagram to find someone who might lend it to me.
When I need a hand with school or work things, I get help from others on Instagram.
14. Please tell us whether the following statements apply to you or not:
Completely
I pay attention to the emotions of others.
I am a good listener.
I sense when others get irritated.
I get to know others profoundly.
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I enjoy other people's stories.
I notice when someone is in trouble.
I sympathize with others.
I set others at ease.
I work according to strict rules.
I work according to plan.
I work according to strict scheme.
I look for regularity in life.
I like routine.
I want predictability.
I function best in a familiar setting.
I have fixed habits.
I take the lead.
I leave initiative to others to make contact.
I find it difficult to make contacts.
I take initiative.
I am inclined to speak out.
I am often the driving force behind things.
I keep calm when things don't go well.
I am insecure.
I am under pressure.
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I am not easily hurt.
I try out various approaches.
I am looking for new ways to attain my goal.
I start a new life easily.
I like to imagine solutions to problems.
I am a trendsetter in societal developments.
I have feeling for what's appropriate in culture.
I seek people from different backgrounds.
I have broad range of interests.
We will finish by asking some general questions about yourself.
15. Where do you come from?
….
16. How old are you?
…..
17. You identify as:
(1) Female (2) Male
18. What is your marital status:
(1) Married
(2) In a relationship but non-married (3) Divorced/ separated:
(4) Single (5) Other: