SNS use, social capital and psychological well-being during life transition: a survey of mainland China students in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study investigates the SNS use of overseas students, and its impact on social capital and adjustment to life transition. By using the concept of social capital, this study tends to examine its role in connecting SNS use and psychological well-being in new environment. A survey of 221 mainland China students studying in Hong Kong showed that social searching on SNS positively predicted the amount of bridging social capital. Public interaction on SNS was positively associated with both bridging social capital and bonding social capital. Overseas students with high levels in both types of social capital were more likely to be satisfied with new environment. After high bonding social capital were established, whether bridging social capital was high made a significant difference in life satisfaction among overseas students. The implications of SNS use, social capital and psychological well-being are also discussed.