Page 142 - Never Too Far Away? The Roles of Social Network Sites in Sojourners’ Adjustment

arises is of a person who is addicted to a coping device that does not approach problem-resolution directly but, rather, approaches a pleasant distraction from problems” (p. 8).
The diverging implications based on Slater’s (2015) theory (i.e., homeostasis and positive feedback loop), as well as Sheldon et al.’s (2011) two-process view reflect theorizing in the areas of positive psychology and (affective) neuroscience in the context of positive and negative emotions (Garland et al., 2010). According to Garland et al. (2010), positive states or emotions are more likely to lead to optimal functioning and resilience. On the other hand, negative states or emotions are more likely to develop into self-perpetuating, self-destructive cycles. Applying this to the findings of this dissertation, it implies that a positive subjective outcome of social interactions (e.g., increased perceived social support) may likely lead to optimal functioning - as shown by the positive impact of face-to-face interaction on perceived social support, and in turn, its positive impact on psychological adjustment (Muusses et al., 2014). Moreover, perceived social support may also lead to a relatively more stable and coherent system (homeostasis) of an individual’s media (SNS) use. On the other hand, a negative subjective outcome (e.g., increased homesickness) demonstrate the possibility of a downward spiral process in media (SNS) use. Further research with a strong interdisciplinary perspective is necessary to validate a possible theoretical integration. Garland et al. (2015) argued that positive emotional experiences may be the source to “perturb a downward spiral and potentially tip the affective balance towards a self-sustaining positivity.” (p. 6). Thus, an important research to pursue is to investigate how these dynamic processes work together to tip the affective balance towards better sojourners’ adjustment.
Perceived social support versus SNS relationship support. In this dissertation, the findings of the studies (Chapters 2 and 5) on the relation of SNS use and social support appear to be inconsistent. Based on the longitudinal study on the use of SNS in a broad relational context (family and friends) (Chapter 2), SNS use with the host-country network had a significant negative effect on perceived social support in the long-term; and that perceived social support had a positive effect on SNS use in the short-term. In the cross-sectional study (Chapter 5), in both GCRR and LDRR, SNS use positively predicted SNS relationship support. To understand these seemingly contradictory results, it is important to look at the differences between the conceptualizations of social support in the two studies.
The main challenge in conceptualizing social support in this dissertation is 140 Chapter 6