Effects of mobile instant messenger use on acculturative stress among international students in South Korea

This study examined the effects of KakaoTalk use, a mobile instant messenger (MIM) in South Korea, and home-country originated social networking site (SNS) use, on international students' acculturative stress, satisfaction with life in Korea, and perceived social support. Using a survey of international students enrolled in a university in South Korea (N = 286), the study found that the use of KakaoTalk helps to reduce foreign students' acculturative stress and to enhance their satisfaction with Korean life. Moreover, dependency on their home-country originated SNS also has a positive impact on both their satisfaction and perception of social support. In addition, individuals’ predispositions represented by extraversion, loneliness, and academic achievement stress had positive associations with acculturative stress, satisfaction with life in Korea, and perceived social support. Theoretical implications and limitations are also discussed.