Communication flows and the durability of a transnational social field

Abstract

We draw on unique data on communication flows between migrants and non-migrants in a bi-national, cross-border social network to test competing theories of the process of social incorporation. While advocates of the assimilation perspective argue that social incorporation is largely a one-way street, a recent literature on immigrant transnationalism challenges this view by arguing that changes in communication technologies and reductions in travel costs have made it possible for migrants to retain meaningful connections to their origin communities. In the context of this debate, we argue that communication flows-as measured by a combination of the number of social ties and the frequency of communication with them-provide an empirical test of the potential durability of cross-border networks. In our analysis, we find mixed support for both transnationalism and assimilation: while the classic assimilation perspective is correct that the strength of migrants' ties to origin attenuates as time in the destination increases, we also find evidence of a striking persistence in cross-border communication that is reinvigorated by migrant return visits, consistent with an attenuated view of transnationalism.

Fractured Families, Connected Community: Emotional Engagement in a Transnational Social Network

“…Heeding suggestions from previous research, that social network research should carefully detail how network position, network density and social network interaction affect outcomes (Verdery et al, 2018;Mouw et al, 2014;Huang et al 2018), we explore the possibility of a relationship between the social network and emotional distress by constructing a measure for contacts' average emotional distress, based on the reported distress levels among respondents' nominated network members who also participated in the study. Heeding suggestions from previous research, that social network research should carefully detail how network position, network density and social network interaction affect outcomes (Verdery et al, 2018;Mouw et al, 2014;Huang et al 2018), we explore the possibility of a relationship between the social network and emotional distress by constructing a measure for contacts' average emotional distress, based on the reported distress levels among respondents' nominated network members who also participated in the study.…”

“…we construct counts for the number of non-household friends and family members a respondent nominates both within and across borders (local family ties, local friends ties, cross-border family ties, and cross-border friends ties) to test if the location and quantity of family and friends nominated by each respondent contribute to the stress of separation, or, in contrast, help buffer the stress of separation by providing additional social support. Heeding suggestions from previous research, that social network research should carefully detail how network position, network density and social network interaction affect outcomes (Verdery et al, 2018;Mouw et al, 2014;Huang et al 2018), we explore the possibility of a relationship between the social network and emotional distress by constructing a measure for contacts' average emotional distress, based on the reported distress levels among respondents' nominated network members who also participated in the study. We use this measure to test if emotional distress as a result of family separation is correlated among ties within a social network.…”

“You don't feel that you're so far away”: Information sharing, technology use, and settlement of international student immigrants

“…The international students we interviewed, as prospective immigrants to Canada, use ICTs in ways that share similarities with the ICT use of non‐international students, in line with the marginal differences seen in social media site use by Saw et al (). They use ICTs in ways similar to other immigrants (see Andrade & Doolin, ; Caidi et al, ; Dekker & Engbersen, ; Fisher et al, ; Komito, ; Mehra & Papajohn, ; Verdery et al, ), but with nuances that represent the unique challenges and situations they face in their dual student and immigrant roles. These ICTs, in turn, play roles in their settlement process beginning as early as their preparation for moving and increasing for many as they move to Canada.…”

“…Information sharing is important for new immigrants, taken here to mean those living outside the country they consider their original “home” (Caidi et al, ). Recent views of immigrants consider the varied “forces that drive immigration” and immigrants (Lee, , p. 732) within complex, transnational contexts as immigrants move between countries for education, work, and everyday lives (Alba & Nee, ; Lee, ; Verdery, Mouw, Edelblute, & Chavez, ).…”

“…Immigrants, including international students, rely on online social networks, ties, media, and ICTs to find social and informational support and connect the global and local facets of their lives, improving their understanding of community, culture, and information and their psychological, emotional, and social well-being (Andrade & Doolin, 2016;Caidi et al, 2010;Dekker & Engbersen, 2014;Fisher, Durrance, & Hinton, 2004;Mehra & Papajohn, 2007;Verdery et al, 2018). Those who are part of information-centric online communities use them for informational and emotional reasons; sharing personal stories, information, and resources helps immigrants "settle in Canada successfully" (Chien, 2005, p. 157), satisfy informational and social support needs, and build relationships in their new country as they settle into true communities (Chien, 2005;Komito, 2011;Saw, Abbott, Donaghey, & McDonald, 2013;Sin & Kim, 2013).…”