Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Communication, Professional
Date of Award
12-2015
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Susan E. Waters
Committee Members
Stephen Marshall, Robert A Dunn
Abstract
This research aims to fill a research gap by examining WeChat to explore whether changes of social context would exert any influence on the information disclosure of social networking site (SNS) users. Selective Exposure Theory and Uses and Gratification Theory were used as the theoretical foundation for this study. Four-hundred Chinese college students in China and the U.S. who have a WeChat App and have logged in to use it within the last 30 days from the day administered were asked to participate in a survey about their motivations and consequences when using WeChat. Results from MANOVA showed that the motivations and consequences of female participants’ self-disclosure were significantly higher than were male participants on WeChat. Moreover, the social context of Chinese students studying in the U.S. is perceived to be more individualized than the traditionally collective context that is perceived by Chinese students studying in China.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Cui, Xiyan, "Self-Disclosure Relies on Social Context: Examining the Similarity and Differences of Chinese Students in the U.S. and China when Disclosing Information on WeChat" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2604. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2604
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.