Thesis... Abstract
Residential Mobility and the Evolution of Social Ties
Thesis Proposal
Irina Shklovski
Extended Abstract
An extensive body of research has examined effects of major life events on psychological well-being (Diener, Suh, Lucas, & Smith, 1999). Life events can be both positive and negative, but all of them can be stressful because they require adjustment. Although the severity of stress depends on individual circumstances, any major life event can have both short term and long term effects on health and psychological well-being (Williams, Ware, & Donald, 1981). Social relationships, that are perceived to offer social support, can serve as a buffer against adverse effects of stress (Cohen, Gottlieb, & Underwood, 2000). A residential move is a common major life event that can have a negative effect on psychological well-being (Magdol, 2002). A long distance residential move could also endanger movers’ social relationships by introducing physical distance (Rohlfing, 1995). This in turn could limit the buffering effects of perceived social support on stress induced by a residential move, making effects of such stress more damaging.
Historically, technology has been associated with residential mobility through advances in transportation, information access and long distance communication (Kok, 2004). Although information communication technology (ICT) use has been a question of interest to researchers over the last decade, little is known about the different patterns of ICT use and the impact they may have on the users’ social relationships and psychological well-being. Recent studies of technology adoption and use report that many people have integrated use of the Internet, cell phones and other digital technologies into their daily lives (Hoffman, Novak, & Venkatesh, 2004). In the context of residential mobility, ICTs may directly address both the stressful aspects of the move itself and the likelihood of damage to social relationships due to the move. People can cope with the stress of their residential move by using ICTs for communicating with those left behind or people in the new location, entertainment and obtaining information to facilitate the move and reduce uncertainty about the new location. The short term and long term effects of doing so may depend on the way movers use the technologies available to them and the timing of these uses. This research proposes to investigate the process of individual’s adjustment to a new location after a residential move. I will consider the short term and long term effects of different patterns of ICT use on health and psychological well-being by examining how movers use ICTs for social interaction, entertainment and information.
Overall Theoretical Model
Residential mobility is a common stressful human endeavor, which can be supported by information and communication technologies (ICTs). The impact of ICTs, however, may depend on the way individuals utilize the services available to them. This study investigates the process of adjustment to a new location and considers the short term and long term effects of using ICTs to cope with the stress due to a residential move, keep in touch with contacts left behind and initiate new geographically proximate relationships. We hypothesize that as the distance of a residential move increases, it negatively affects both personal relationships and social integration, which could, in turn, affect the ability of movers to get settled into a new location. Presence of healthy personal relationships positively impacts perceived social support which, in turn, may reduce adverse effects of stress on individual health and well-being. Information communication technologies offer services that may act as moderators for the impact of distance on social integration and personal relationships and subsequent integration into the new location. In the short, term use of many of these services may be beneficial for the movers. However, in the long term, use of some of these services may become maladaptive, adversely affecting movers’ ability to adjust to the new location, which in turn may adversely affect their health and psychological well-being.
Thesis Proposal
Irina Shklovski
Extended Abstract
An extensive body of research has examined effects of major life events on psychological well-being (Diener, Suh, Lucas, & Smith, 1999). Life events can be both positive and negative, but all of them can be stressful because they require adjustment. Although the severity of stress depends on individual circumstances, any major life event can have both short term and long term effects on health and psychological well-being (Williams, Ware, & Donald, 1981). Social relationships, that are perceived to offer social support, can serve as a buffer against adverse effects of stress (Cohen, Gottlieb, & Underwood, 2000). A residential move is a common major life event that can have a negative effect on psychological well-being (Magdol, 2002). A long distance residential move could also endanger movers’ social relationships by introducing physical distance (Rohlfing, 1995). This in turn could limit the buffering effects of perceived social support on stress induced by a residential move, making effects of such stress more damaging.
Historically, technology has been associated with residential mobility through advances in transportation, information access and long distance communication (Kok, 2004). Although information communication technology (ICT) use has been a question of interest to researchers over the last decade, little is known about the different patterns of ICT use and the impact they may have on the users’ social relationships and psychological well-being. Recent studies of technology adoption and use report that many people have integrated use of the Internet, cell phones and other digital technologies into their daily lives (Hoffman, Novak, & Venkatesh, 2004). In the context of residential mobility, ICTs may directly address both the stressful aspects of the move itself and the likelihood of damage to social relationships due to the move. People can cope with the stress of their residential move by using ICTs for communicating with those left behind or people in the new location, entertainment and obtaining information to facilitate the move and reduce uncertainty about the new location. The short term and long term effects of doing so may depend on the way movers use the technologies available to them and the timing of these uses. This research proposes to investigate the process of individual’s adjustment to a new location after a residential move. I will consider the short term and long term effects of different patterns of ICT use on health and psychological well-being by examining how movers use ICTs for social interaction, entertainment and information.
Overall Theoretical Model
Residential mobility is a common stressful human endeavor, which can be supported by information and communication technologies (ICTs). The impact of ICTs, however, may depend on the way individuals utilize the services available to them. This study investigates the process of adjustment to a new location and considers the short term and long term effects of using ICTs to cope with the stress due to a residential move, keep in touch with contacts left behind and initiate new geographically proximate relationships. We hypothesize that as the distance of a residential move increases, it negatively affects both personal relationships and social integration, which could, in turn, affect the ability of movers to get settled into a new location. Presence of healthy personal relationships positively impacts perceived social support which, in turn, may reduce adverse effects of stress on individual health and well-being. Information communication technologies offer services that may act as moderators for the impact of distance on social integration and personal relationships and subsequent integration into the new location. In the short, term use of many of these services may be beneficial for the movers. However, in the long term, use of some of these services may become maladaptive, adversely affecting movers’ ability to adjust to the new location, which in turn may adversely affect their health and psychological well-being.
posted by Q at 03:36
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